This month, we’re celebrating local creatives making a difference in the arts and entertainment sector in our community. From graphic design to theatre, art and opera, all the interviews offer inspiration and interesting accounts of lives centred around creativity.
Suzy Sampson
Theatre
Suzy Sampson is a theatre director currently directing 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime', presented by Company Theatre at The Rose Centre in Belmont. Suzy grew up in Wellington and was a teacher before moving to London and working in marketing for EMI Music. She says it was her dream job and the perks were amazing (tickets to gigs, free CDs and merchandise… “I couldn’t believe I was being paid to have so much fun!”). It was the early death of a beloved cousin to breast cancer when she was only 32 that prompted Suzy to pursue her real passion of acting. She felt she owed it to herself to follow her dreams, so once her youngest child started school, Suzy auditioned and was accepted into three different drama schools in London: Italia Conti, RADA and LAPA. The rest is history!
Channel Magazine: Where do you get creative inspiration from?
Suzy Sampson: It’s in the blood! My grandmother, Gracie Kerr, was the leading lady in New Zealand’s first talking movie with Grant Tilly’s father Cyril – it was called 'Wellington Wellington' (a Kiwi take on New York New York). Sadly the film has been lost and all I have is a copy of the newspaper clipping from 1929 about it. My mum was also an actress, and my aunt won a scholarship to attend the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. It took her three months on a boat to get there, all alone at the age of 16!
What does your typical day look like?
I’m directing a play for Company Theatre and we’re currently in pre-production for the play ‘The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night Time’ - an adaptation of the Whitbread-winning book by Mark Haddon which will be performed at The Rose Centre in May. So days are filled with creating rehearsal schedules, working out marketing plans, discussing set design and props needed, and sound and lighting effects, and then in the evenings the real fun begins when our wonderful actors arrive to breathe life into the script.
If you weren’t in theatre, what do you think you’d be doing and why?
Going to music festivals (I’ve just had the best weekend at Shipwrecked in Te Arai) and travelling the world in my cute little campervan! There are 195 countries in the world and so far, I’ve only been to 30 of them…
Do you do creative projects outside your ‘nine-to-five’? If so, what do you enjoy doing?
Anything that involves the sea, I have five stand up paddleboards (two of them are inflatable so I can take them with me in my campervan). I compete in the Harcourt SUP Beach Series races on Tuesday evenings at Milford in the summer. I love the sea.
Are there any local businesses, galleries, locations on the Shore that you especially draw inspiration from and why?
Flagstaff Gallery in Devonport has fantastic art exhibitions, and they support local artists. I’m the proud owner of three art works from there. The restaurants and bars on The Strand in Takapuna have a great vibe on a sunny evening, and Tok Tok (Asian fusion restaurant) is my favourite on the Shore or possibly even all of Auckland! It takes me back to the 10 years I spent living in Hong Kong.
Visit companytheatre.co.nz for more info on Suzy’s play.
Lynn Lawton
satellite2 Gallery
Lynn Lawton is director of new Devonport gallery, Satellite 2, and well known for his creative work on the Shore. Lynn says he has some essential guiding values that have sustained him in the mahi he undertakes and the connections he develops throughout his life, with people and the world around him. He says that he works with commitment, honesty and transparency, and with the belief that considered service is fundamental to a thriving community. In this context, he says that he loves to support others to realise their dreams and their potential through the kete of life and professional skills that he’s continually developing.
Channel Magazine: Where do you get creative inspiration from?”
Lynn Lawton: Visiting the studios of artists, hearing their stories, learning what informs their work and then being able to share this with visitors to our galleries. That’s inspiring!
What does your typical day look like?
Swim at 6am with our dog Mia. Breakfast on the front porch in summer and winter. Then it’s time to meditate and read the paper, before opening the gallery at 10am. The day ends with time in the gym, conversation over dinner about the day, and reading a good New Zealand non-fiction book before sleep catches up with me. Michael King's 'Te Puea' is my current read.
If you weren’t in the art gallery business, what do you think you’d be doing and why?
I’ve had such a variety of enjoyable work and professional roles through life, and the thread that runs through them is meaningful mahi that makes a difference somewhere and for someone.
Do you do creative projects outside of your ‘nine-to-five’? If so, what do you enjoy doing?
I’ve never subscribed to the work-life concept. Life-work is seamless. Whatever I am doing, it’s infused with exploring, learning and experiencing the creative in life.
Are there any local businesses, galleries, locations on the Shore that you especially draw inspiration from and why?
Devonport’s Bookmark! The ever-changing window display draws me in. I pull out a chosen book and settle into one of the old leather loungers to enjoy. I’ll often select something that for many weeks will inspire and inform me as I read and discuss with my friends.
Visit satellite2.co.nz for more information
Lauren Towns
Singer/Performer
Lauren Towns is an AIMES Emerging Talent Award winner for music who is building a portfolio career as an opera singer, performer, and vocal teacher. She’s a lyric mezzo soprano finishing her Bachelor of Music (Performance) in Classical Voice through the Queensland Conservatorium at Griffith University. Lauren grew up in Bayswater, studied at Belmont Primary School, Belmont Intermediate, and Takapuna Grammar School where she fell in love with singing and music. Becoming an opera singer takes a very long time to master and along with singing, Lauren says you have to learn multiple languages (she’s currently learning French, Italian, German, and Spanish) and learn how to act/dance. She’s currently in rehearsals for 'Hansel and Gretel' with Brisbane-based opera company, Voxalis. Next year, Lauren plans to start a Masters degree in Europe or the USA, before entering the international opera scene and working full time as a performer.
Channel Magazine: Where do you get creative inspiration from?
Lauren Towns: I get my creative inspiration from so many places and people! I always listen to the old recordings of singers as an artistic guide and I think that it is really important to learn from the past. I am also very inspired by so much of the opera scene at the moment. I think that Brad Cohen (NZ Opera general director) is making huge breakthroughs with opera in New Zealand and I am very excited to see where this will lead in the future.
What does your typical day look like?
Being a singer your body is your instrument, and we have to train it like a professional athlete would, with at least two hours of practice every day. So discipline is very important. I always fit in a yoga session before heading to rehearsals at university or the singing studio where I teach. Every day is super long and doesn't end until about 9pm but I wouldn't have it any other way. I definitely thrive in a busy environment.
If you weren’t on stage, what do you think you’d be doing and why?
I think I would want to work for DoC as a park ranger or something similar! I absolutely love nature, and hiking is a big passion of mine. I think that the mindfulness I get from it really helps with my singing. I’m actually just about to start a four day hike, my longest one yet!
Do you do creative hobbies outside of your ‘nine-to-five’? If so, what do you enjoy doing?
I really love baking and cooking. I am always looking for cool ingredients to work with. I also do yoga, and along with my hiking it’s an important part of my wellness routine. Going on a good road trip is also my idea of fun.
Are there any local businesses, galleries, music locations on the Shore that you especially draw inspiration from and why?
The Rose Centre is the place where I had my first ever performance, so it definitely holds a special place in my heart! I am always drawn to smaller performance spaces because often they are where the most bold and unique creative decisions are made. Wild Wheat Belmont and Asahi Japanese are always the first stops I visit when returning to the Shore.
Kayla Greer
Graphic Designer
Kayla Greer is a graphic designer for Benefitz (publisher of Channel Magazine). She is originally from Dunedin and moved to Australia to live and work abroad after studying interior design. While in Australia, she ended up working in health and safety before moving back to Auckland around seven years ago to be closer to family and get back into a creative industry.
Channel Magazine: Where do you get creative inspiration from?
Kayla Greer: Online design blogs and resources, magazines, plus other creatives and studios. I have always been creative, so I draw inspiration from many places.
What does your typical day look like?
Benefitz is a busy place, with a strong creative team, surrounded by lots of tools that make what we create come to life. So I am always working on a wide variety of design. Print work like brochures, signage, digital assets, some 3D work, fuelled by a lot of coffee. I usually take a break away from the computer to hit the gym at lunchtime with a couple of workmates.
If you weren’t design, what do you think you’d be doing and why?
Most likely I would have continued my career in the health and safety industry. If I was to go back to study, I would love to get into architecture or build on my interiors degree.
Do you do creative hobbies outside of your ‘nine-to-five’? If so, what do you enjoy doing?
I do a little bit of drawing and painting, or trying out any new craft activities. Being originally from Dunedin, I always enjoy getting outdoors. The Shore is a great place to live for lifestyle so I really enjoy relaxing at the beach, going for short hikes and spending time with family and friends.
