The PumpHouse: Celebrating Peg Escott

The PumpHouse Theatre invites you to an an evening celebrating writer, poet, playwright and friend of The PumpHouse, Peg Escott.  

Peg Escott was well known and respected in the world of drama in New Zealand and specifically on the North Shore. She was a published author of three novels, one of which, ‘Showdown’, was republished as part of the New Zealand fiction series in 1973.  

Her stage play “Saved – A Melodrama” was written to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Auckland and reflects the Auckland of the past. 

Peg gave up writing because she “couldn’t bare to look at myself in print.” 

Her love of the performing arts saw her become an adjudicator for the British Drama League (New Zealand Branch) and a regular panellist on radio 1YC’s arts panel.    

She was involved in the local amateur dramatic scene as director and was at the vanguard of the group who championed the saving of The PumpHouse building, which today remains a vibrant hub of The Arts.    

Sadly Peg passed away shortly before the first performance was staged at The PumpHouse, but her memory remains. 

Few of Peg’s works still exist but those that do give us a glimpse into not only Peg’s creativity but also Auckland of yesteryear. 

To celebrate Peg Escott, a lost taonga in the world of NZ drama, we present an evening of readings and performance and stories from those who knew her. 

For more information and to book, visit The PumpHouse website, here.

 
Encore Theatre Collective is proud to present a dazzling new production of Seussical The Musical, based on the immortal works of Dr Seuss. Seussical brings to life many infamous and well-loved Dr Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Mayzie La Bird and, of course, the Cat in the Hat. These characters and stories weave together in a whimsical and wacky musical extravaganza, played out against an uplifting score, and highlighting the show’s universal messages of love and acceptance – reminding us all that “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”

Since launching in 2019, Encore Theatre Collective has made an incredible mark on the Auckland theatre scene and redefined the standard of youth theatre in New Zealand. Hot on the heels of their sold-out season of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, the June season of Seussical features 120 of the country’s finest young talent, ranging in age from 9-23.

With spectacular choreography, unbelievable production design, and slick vocals, Encore Theatre Collective’s Seussical The Musical is the theatrical offering of 2021 that you will not want to miss!