Susan Wilson (director)

Susan Wilson ONZM
Wilson in 2021
Nationality	New Zealand
Occupation(s)	Actor and director
Known for	role of Beryl in Gliding On series

Susan Accushla Wilson ONZM is a New Zealand director and actor. Wilson was one of the founders of Wellington's Circa Theatre and the Circa Council in 1976 and has had a long career at the theatre as a stage actor and director.[1][2][3]

Acting

Wilson played the role of Beryl in the popular television programme Gliding On over 5 series between 1981 and 1985.[4] Her work in television also includes roles in Mortimer's Patch, and Close to Home.[1] She also appeared as Aunt Daisy in an episode of Pioneer Women.[5]

Director

Wilson's productions include many winners of Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards including Angels in America, Joyful and Triumphant, Arcadia, and Death of a Salesman.[6]

She has been a script advisor for Playmarket and Television New Zealand script editor.[3]

As of 2021, Wilson continues as a Director at Circa Theatre.[7] Wilson has been directing pantomimes at Circa Theatre over years, a recent was Cinderella (2020) written by Simon Leary & Gavin Rutherford.[8]

Honours and awards

In 1982, Wilson won Best Actress in the Feltex Television Awards, for Mortimer's Patch and Gliding On.[1]

In 1992, Wilson won the Best Director award at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards for her direction of Robert Lord's Joyful and Triumphant.[9] She won the same award again in 1994 for her production of Angels in America.[9]

In 2006, Wilson won Director of the Year in the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards for Death of a Salesman.[10]

In the 2001 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Wilson was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to theatre.[11]

References

1. "Susan Wilson". NZ On Screen. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
2. "Wellington's Circa Theatre celebrates the "Big Four-O"". Stuff. 19 May 2016. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
3. "Wilson, Susan, active 1970-2017". tiaki.natlib.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
4. "Gliding On". NZ On Screen. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
5. "Pioneer Women". NZ On Screen. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
6. "Susan Wilson ONZM". Circa Theatre. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
7. Almeida, Ines (1 August 2021). "Sir Roger Hall play 'Winding Up' is a poignant lesson in undying love". Stuff. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
8. "Review: Circa panto Cinderella a rollicking night out for all the family". Stuff. 14 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
9. Warrington, Lisa. "Theatre Aotearoa database". University of Otago. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
10. "Chapman Tripp Theatre Award Winners Announced". www.theatreview.org.nz. 21 December 2006. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
11. "The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2001". Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2021.

Further reading

• Tales from the rabbit warren. Evening post (Wellington, N.Z.), 24 Aug 1989; p. 27
• From famous spinster to famous aunt. New Zealand woman's weekly, 23 Jan 1989; p. 32-33
• Susan Wilson. Dominion post (Wellington, N.Z.), 10 Aug 2013; sup.p.15

External links

• Interview with Susan Wilson (2019)