Story: Plays and playwrights

Yorkshire-born Peter Bland arrived in New Zealand in 1954, aged 20. He later helped to found Wellington's Downstage Theatre, which gave his play Father's Dayits first production in 1966. It was Downstage's first locally written production, and was inspired by Bland's experience of living in a Lower Hutt state house. It was directed by Brian Bell, and the cast included (from left) Nicolette McKenzie, Pat Evison and Jennifer Dakers.