Since taking the reins at the Auckland Theatre Company, ColinMcColl has shown a knack for finding plays from the 1960s and 1970s that speak directly to the concerns of contemporary audiences.
David Aston and Catherine Wilkin, as the parents of the disturbed boy, are particularly moving as they vigorously reject the pervasive notion that blame for aberrant behaviour can invariably be laid at the feet of the parents.
McColl's direction is masterful in its attention to detail.
McColl Architects - Architects in Aberdeen - Aberdeen Business Directory(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-01)
McColl Architects, established by ColinMcColl in Aberdeen in 2005, seeks to deliver contemporary and innovative architectural solutions to every project no matter what scale, XS, S, M, L, XL.
At McColl Architects in Aberdeen, we take care in our choice of materials and detailing of the project at the planning and design stage, to enrich the experience of the building for the user.
The McColl architecture practice has ongoing work in and around Aberdeen, London and Turkey; and this includes residential new build and extensions, leisure sector, retail and office design and fit out.
Auckland Theatre Co - Plays(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-01)
One of New Zealand's leading theatre directors, Colin co-founded Taki Rua Theatre in 1983 and was Artistic Director of Downstage Theatre in Wellington, 1984-1992.
Colin is renowned for his innovative treatment of classic plays - particularly the works of Chekhov and Ibsen - and has directed for the Norwegian National Theatre and the Dutch National Theatre, as well as most leading New Zealand and Australian theatre companies.
For ATC Colin has directed Doubt, Disgrace, The Duchess of Malfi, Equus, Caligula, Goldie, Who's Afriad of Virginia Woolf?, Middle Age Spread, Waiting for Godot, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Serial Killers, The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Skylight, Daughters of Heaven and Honour.
Tim MacAvoy said that McColl stood out amongst a group of extremely high calibre candidates for his breadth and depth of international experience, and ability to strengthen and extend the vision which Simon Prast established for the company in 1992.
ColinMcColl says he is excited about continuing the legacy Simon Prast has created for Auckland theatre-goers, and he praised Oliver Driver who has directed the theatre company since Simon’s departure.
Colin is certainly no stranger to ATC, in its early days he directed Daughters of Heaven which was praised by critics, and since then he has directed seven other productions, including his award-winning adaptation of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot.
Adults playing children can be fraught with difficulty but the denial, diversionary tactics and displacement activities lizard-loving 4 ½ year-old Mattie brings to his dealing with the loss of his mother, as he waits the "funeran" and the "party" they're going to have for her, bring the first half to a poignant conclusion.
At this point I am in two minds about ColinMcColl's decision to avoid all theatrical tricks in beginning and ending the first half, and staging the transitions from character to character.
Fox's initial entry subverts anticipation and expectation when she strolls on, looks at us, then goes about preparing for her first role, the start of which is signified with a caption on video screens (otherwise used to suggest security surveillance).
McColl’s acute dramatic sense and understanding is evident in every aspect of the production from principals to chorus.
John Parker’s versatile sets of tall metal – both mirrored and transparent – were stylish and elegant and their design was complimented superbly by Tony Rabbit’s atmospheric lighting.
The direction of ColinMcColl added greatly to the night’s sense of theatre.
McColl consistently mounts challenging theatre, and there were some inspired moments in this stylish production.
Notably, the best design of the year by Tony Rabbit, with his thrust sandpit stage and imaginative use of the Town Hall concert chamber, sumptuous costumes by Elizabeth Whiting, striking original music by John Gibson, not to mention another captivating performance by Hurst (as Bosola).
Bound in chains, she is majestic and defiant in the flickering candlelight while he fights fits of conscience."
The Late Sir David Rolland Spedding(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-01)
He was also only the second 'C', as the post is known in Whitehall, to be officially identified by the Government when his appointment was announced.
His predecessor, Sir ColinMcColl, had been identified as 'C' by John Major earlier that year during the introduction of the Intelligence Services Act which placed MI6 on the statute books.
His predecessor Sir ColinMcColl had stayed on in order to see through the new legislation officially putting SIS and GCHQ on a statutory footing.
Theatre Review: SWEET CHARITY, directed by ColinMcColl; Auckland Theatre Company, Skycity Theatre (to December 16) and BERLIN, directed by John Verryt, Silo Theatre, Auckland (to December 16)
Yes, it’s true that Sweet Charity is rather long and episodic in the way that Broadway shows often are, but ColinMcColl’s vibrant and very funny production is a winner.
McColl has exploited the delicious campness of 60s New York with hilarious setpieces and the musical numbers are dazzlingly choreographed by Shona McCullagh, who adds a contemporary irony and edge.
problematic for Director ColinMcColl and his creative team, who, perhaps by way of compensation, tried to do, and add, too much.
John Gibson's sound scape, for the vast majority of the play, was a pot pouri of crackle, hum and the usual wall of mall noise.
ATC Artistic Director ColinMcColl states in the programme: "This production marks a new partnership between Auckland Theatre Company and Downstage Theatre." It opens a Downstage of 21 September.
Secret Intelligence Service Biography,info(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-01)
During the transition, then-C Sir ColinMcColl embraced a new, albeit limited, policy of openness towards the press and public, with 'public affairs' falling into the brief of Director, Counter-Intelligence and Security (renamed Director, Security and Public Affairs).
McColl's policies were part and parcel with a wider 'open government initiative' developed from 1993 by the government of John Major.
As part of this, SIS operations, and those of the national signals intelligence agency, GCHQ, were placed on a statutory footing through the 1994 Intelligence Services Act.
SIS, more commonly known as MI6, has only once before placed its chief, traditionally known throughout Whitehall as C, in the public arena.
Sir Colin and Sir Richard share the same view of publicity, however, which is that MI6 has an obligation to its sources, and future sources, to remain in the shadows, ensuring absolute confidentiality.
Neither Sir Colin then nor Sir Richard yesterday wanted their photographs taken.
It was written in the early sixties and encapsulates all the energy and exhilarating freedom of those times,” says ColinMcColl, Auckland Theatre Company Artistic Director.
The dream team of Director ColinMcColl, Musical Director John Gibson and Choreographer Shona McCullagh, take the creative helm for this wildly energetic revival.
Jackie Clarke is joined by Vincent Harder - he is back in New Zealand fresh from a two year stint in the leading role of Simba in Disney’s The Lion King, Australia’s biggest musical.
During this period she also Directed Stage Plays, worked as a Dramaturgy for Playmarket, and read short stories for Radio NZ.
Her most recent theatrical credits include starring in a classic NZ Play; "Haruru Mai", directed by ColinMcColl for the 2000 International Festival of the Arts, and directed Toa Fraser's, "Bare" for the AATC in San Francisco 2001.
Television credits include NZ series; "Shark in the Park", "Betty's Bunch" and "Coverstory" which earned her a TVNZ Best Actress Nomination.
A dance musical by Shona McCullagh and the Six Volts (Plan 9 are 3 of those Volts) highly acclaimed and long remembered as a classic Kiwi night out at the theatre.
Plan 9 were joined by David Long and Neill Duncan as the live Kit Kat band for ColinMcColl’s sell out 1998/99 production at Downstage Theatre in Wellington
The Songs of Kurt Weill to be performed at the Nelson Festival of the Arts on Sat Oct 14 '06
"Craig Parker is returning from London for the production, and he will be joined by some of the finest actors in New Zealand including Theresa Healey, Simon Prast, Greg Johnson, David Van Horn, Colin Moy and Stuart Devenie.
Tim Balme will also join the cast for the last few performances, when Parker has to return to his off-shore Lord of the Rings fan duties."