Nationality New Zealander Name Bruce Mason | Role Playwright Movies Chez Upshaw | |
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Born 28 September 1921Wellington, New Zealand ( 1921-09-28 ) Spouse Diana Manby Shaw (m. 1945–1982) Children Rebecca Mason, Belinda Mason, Julian Mason Books The End of the Golden Weather, The pohutukawa tree, Bruce Mason solo, The healing arch, Awatea Similar People Kevin Pollak, Bonita Friedericy, Illeana Douglas, Molly Sims, Don Most | ||
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Bruce Edward George Mason, CBE (28 September 1921 – 31 December 1982) was a significant playwright in New Zealand who wrote 34 plays and influenced the cultural landscape of the country through his contribution to theatre. In 1980, he was awarded the prestigious CBE. The Bruce Mason Award, one of the most important playwrighting accolades in New Zealand, is named in his honour. Mason was also an actor, critic, and fiction writer.
Contents
- 2015 christmas day stephen lovatt s bruce mason extract at takapuna beach
- Excel graduation 2012 bruce mason centre
- Background
- Personal life
- Death
- Legacy
- Plays
- References
Mason's most well known play is The End of the Golden Weather, a classic work in New Zealand theatre which was made into a feature film directed by Ian Mune in 1991. Another significant play is The Pohutukawa Tree written during the 1950s and 1960s. The Pohutukawa Tree was Mason's first major success and explored Māori and Pākehā themes, a common thread in most of his works. Theatre was an avenue for Mason to highlight social and political issues in New Zealand society. He translated Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard for radio in 1960. His works of solo theatre was collected under the title Bruce Mason Solo (1981) and included The End of the Golden Weather. Published in 1987 was The Healing Arch, a cycle of five plays, including The Pohutukawa Tree and Hongi which focus on Māori culture post European contact.
Excel graduation 2012 bruce mason centre
Background
Mason was born in Wellington, the country's capital. At the age of 5, his family moved to Takapuna. He attended Victoria University College where he took part in drama. In 1945, he graduated with a B.A. He served in the New Zealand Army (1941–1943) and the Naval Volunteer Reserve (1943–1945). He later worked for the New Zealand Forest Service (1951–1957). He edited the Māori news magazine Te Ao Hou (1960–1961), a culturally significant publication. He was a co-founder of Downstage Theatre, New Zealand's first professional theatre in 1964 and wrote a weekly column Music on the Air for the New Zealand Listener from 1964 to 1969. In 1977, he was awarded an honorary degree by Victoria University. He was also a theatre critic for the capital's newspapers from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Personal life
Mason met his wife Diana while studying at Victoria University College in 1939. A noted obstetrician specialising in women's health, she shared his interest in the arts. They had three children, Belinda, Julian and Rebecca.
Death
Bruce Mason died in 1982 from cancer. His wife Diana Mason died in June 2007, nearly 25 years after her husband's death.
Legacy
Mason's plays are studied at schools and universities. The Bruce Mason Centre, a major arts and theatre venue in Auckland is also named after him. The centre was opened in 1996 and contains a 1164-seat auditorium. The Promenade Cafe displays Bruce Mason memorabilia, including his original desk and typewriter.
In 2009, The Pohutukawa Tree was staged by Auckland Theatre Company, directed by Colin McColl and starring Rena Owen and Stuart Devenie.