November 25, 2015

FORTUNE THEATRE ANNOUNCES NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Jonathon Hendry as our new Artistic Director. Jonathon will commence his role on 1 February, 2016.

Jonathon joins us from Toi Whakaari where he held the roles of Director of Actor Training (2013-15), Head of Acting/Associate Director (2000-2013) and Head of Acting (2007-2010). Prior to this he was Head of Acting at UNITEC NZ (2004-2007). He has broad experience as an actor and director since 1999, including being a Shakespeare’s Globe Artistic Fellow in 2003, and has worked on both classic and contemporary productions. He has worked closely with writers as a Dramaturg through Playmarket NZ, Auckland Theatre Company, Taki Rua, Centrepoint and Downstage Theatres.

Fortune Theatre’s General Manager, Bob King, said “The team and I are looking forward to working with new Artistic Director Jonathon Hendry on our soon-to-be announced 2016 season and beyond.” 

Chairperson Haley van Leeuwen said of the appointment, “We felt that Jonathon had the right credentials and experience to be Artistic Director, and has the ability to build on the legacy created by Lara Macgregor and to lead the theatre artistically into the future. He has a wide network within the artistic community, which we see as valuable given our focus in the coming year to work more collaboratively with other arts organisations.”