Passing Through
Alison Cowan (Whakatū Nelson)
Passing Through – A play with a waiting room, an administrator and a group of people. The problem is, they are all dead – whatever that means.
The original script was written by Alison Cowan, who was mentored through the Ōtepoti Theatre Lab Emerging Playwright programme by amazing international talents, Allison Horsley (script advisor), and Kim Morgan (director). Alison was deeply astonished and grateful to receive this quality of support.
This resulting short theatrical presentation playfully considers the fates of three recently departed souls. We take a thoughtful, light-hearted look at life and after life. Passing Through was first performed in the Dunedin Fringe Festival in 2021. With strong story telling elements, and a cheeky sense of humour, the author asks: if life is a school – what have we learnt? And once we leave…what comes next?
Alison has been a performer, of some description, most of her life. Her exploits have ranged from poetry slamming to flamenco dancing, barbershop singing to Toastmastering, and acting. In Dunedin she appeared as Sylvia 3, in Sylvia at The Globe, and in Murder in the Cathedral at St Paul’s. She has also expanded her range to encompass stage management – a natural fit for her practical, warm, bossy nature. A further essay into playwrighting has occurred, resulting in the creation of Passing Through.
Presenting this whimsical riff on some big questions, we have:
Allison Cormack
Allison was born in Dunedin, and grew up in Dannevirke, Hawkes Bay and Levin. Many decades ago she studied classical voice in Brisbane and Wellington. This is her fourth Fringe festival. Over the years she has played both a crab and a Scottish bureaucrat. What next, we wonder!
Kerry Jimson
Kerry has been treading the boards since primary school, press-ganging classmates into doing skits at assembly. This bad habit continued at university with appearances in revues. Most recently he has pursued community theatre in Titirangi – Major Gowan in Fawlty Towers, Baldrick in Blackadder, and Phillipe in Heroes. He has also done standup comedy in Wellington, Auckland, and Nelson.
Mynx Bunting
From infancy Mynx has loved being on stage, dancing with their ballet companies and performing in their high school productions and local youth theatre. Life gets in the way of that passion sometimes, so they’re glad to be back on stage, becoming someone else. This time that someone just happens to be eerily familiar.
Nick Gastrell
Of all the different forms of theatrical expression Nick has taken part in here in Nelson, he considers Fringe to be one of the most fun and challenging. Nick says he loves to bust beyond typecasting expectations.
We hope you are intrigued to come along and enjoy our lighted hearted meditation on life, and after life.
General admission
Duration: 50mins
Check out Alison on facebook.
