Created from The Trials of Minnie Dean:
Falling
Minnie Dean’s final journey, 1895
a radio drama
SEE VIDEO TRAILER: https://youtu.be/pLe2w-lmTeE
PREMIÈRE
Thursday 18 August 2022
Radio episodes: http://plainsfm.org.nz/prog/falling
Podcast episodes: http://plainsfm.org.nz/prog/falling
Spotify & iTunes:
search “Falling – Minnie Dean’s final journey”
featuring Eilish Moran
as Minnie Dean
directed by Yvonne Martin
recorded by Nicki Reece, Plains FM
written & produced by Karen Zelas
Minnie Dean, 1872
Falling is a radio drama in which Minnie Dean is brought to life by actor Eilish Moran. Listeners become party to Minnie’s thoughts and feelings, hear her wrestling with her past and present and the injustice she believes has befallen her. The drama allows us to explore the mind of a person who knows she is about to die, perhaps wrongly convicted.
PRIZE DRAW:
Deduce the name of the actor playing Constable Rasmussen, from material on this page and the video-trailer. Email the answer on 18 August before 12 midnight NZST, to [email protected] together with your name, email address and postal address, to go in the draw for a copy of The Trials of Minnie Dean: A verse biography (see above).
The Trials of Minnie Dean can also be purchased through this website HERE
or by emailing [email protected]
or from independent bookshops. Also available from libraries.
RADIO BROADCASTS of FALLING:
Plains FM 96.9:
There will be a morning series and an evening series, commencing on 18 August.
See http://plainsfm.org.nz/prog/falling:
Morning Evening
Episode 1: Thu 18 Aug 9:30am Sun 21 Aug 10pm
Episode 2: Fri 19 Aug 9:30am Sun 28 Aug 10pm
Episode 3: Thu 25 Aug 9:30am Sun 4 Sep 10pm
Episode 4: Fri 26 Aug 9:30am Sun 11 Sep 10pm
Additional community radio stations will also broadcast Falling. Check the website of your local station.
PODCAST EPISODES of FALLING:
All 4 podcast episodes go live through http://plainsfm.org.nz/prog/falling on Thursday 18 August.
1. The Creatives
From left: Kathleen Burns, Yvonne Martin, Geoffrey Heath, Roanna Dalziel, Tom Trevella, Eilish Moran, Cameron Douglas, Rosie Cruikshank, Karen Zelas Photo: Nicki Reece
Director Yvonne Martin
Yvonne has worked at the Court Theatre, Christchurch, as an actor/singer/director since 1979, with over 130 shows to her credit. In 1988, she was created an Associate of The Court. She has appeared in diverse roles in straight plays and musical theatre throughout New Zealand and directed stage productions for The Court, NASDA and Christchurch Repertory Theatre. TV and film credits include, Shortland Street; Starlight Hotel; and Births, Deaths, and Marriages.
Eilish Moran
Eilish is an Associate of The Court Theatre and has performed in 80 productions for the theatre. She has been a Playschool Presenter, a reporter for the series Money and featured in Gaylene Preston's series Hope and Wire. Eilish is also a primary school teacher.
Tom Trevella
Tom works as a stage, screen and voice actor. Recently, he featured in Peninsula, a short film shot and produced on Banks Peninsula, which was selected to appear in the TriBeCa film festival in New York. In June 2021, he performed a solo show, 2Graves, written by Paul Sellar, at the Lyttelton Arts Factory.
Kathleen Burns
Kathleen Burns has nearly twenty years’ experience in the industry. She began her career as an improviser in Scared Scriptless, is a graduate of NASDA, and performs in theatres all over the country. From Dylan Thomas's Under Milkwood, to Willy Russell's Educating Rita, to an evil Sea Witch in The Little Mermaid, she relishes any theatrical challenge that comes her way. Her hilarious web series Sextortion can be found on tvnzondemand.co.nz
Cameron Douglas
Cameron is a graduate of NASDA. His professional theatre debut was at The Court Theatre in My Fair Lady and he has since performed in numerous productions, most recently A Streetcar Named Desire, Jersey Boys and Once. Other theatre highlights include Red; Avenue Q (Fortune Theatre); Poor Boy; Oliver; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Auckland Theatre Company); Assassins (Silo Theatre Company) and being an original cast member of That Bloody Woman. Cameron’s professional experience also spans television and music. He is the lead singer and acoustic guitarist of New Zealand’s premiere skiffle rock and roll band, The Goldonies. His television credits include Outrageous Fortune; Legend of the Seeker and One Night Only.
Geoffrey Heath
Geoffrey Heath, a professional actor since 1979, first appeared at Fortune Theatre in Dunedin. His association with Christchurch was in 1980 at The Court Theatre. Then followed several years in the North Island, appearing at Downstage in Wellington, Centrepoint at Palmerston North and numerous productions for TV and radio. In 1992, returning to Christchurch, Geoffrey started a long association with The Court Theatre, in a wide variety of roles and productions, and was made an Associate of The Court in 2011.
Roanna Dalziel
In London, Roanna self-produced a short season of her work Lost in Thought and then an abridged version of Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Acting highlights include: Beanie Brown (a bald nurse) on Shortland Street, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing for Black Cat Theatre, Lady Macbeth for Cambridge Shakespeare Festival and Moira in the UK premier of Foreskin's Lament.
Rosie Cruickshank
Rosie Cruickshank is a writer and performance poet in Christchurch. She is a member and fierce advocate for Write On School for Young Writers and Cashmere High School Writer's Group. Her works can be found in Catalyst, Re-Draft, Write On and whatever other amateur publications she is currently working on. She loves speaking to daunting crowds, tragic skateboarding attempts and writing really nerdy art history essays.
I live and write in Christchurch, New Zealand. I have been writing full time since 2006, when I ceased practice as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist. My broad experience of life and living informs my writing.
My first novel – Past Perfect – was first published in 2010 by Wily Publications, Christchurch, and republished by Interactive Publications, Brisbane, Australia, in 2012. My second novel – Resolutions – has been released by Pūkeko Publications in December 2020 as an ebook only.
I am the author of four books of poetry: the first – Night’s Glass Table – was awarded the 2012 IP Picks Best First Book by the publisher Interactive Publications; most recent collections are I am Minerva and The Trials of Minnie Dean: a verse biography (Submarine imprint, Mākaro Press, 2016 and 2017 respectively).
I have edited two anthologies of New Zealand writing: Crest to Crest: Impressions of Canterbury: prose & poetry (Wily Publications, 2009) and, together with Joanna Preston, broken lines / in charcoal (Pūkeko Publications, 2020), a book of contemporary poetry by Christchurch poets.
I am also a playwright and have had two plays produced: Geography of Loss (a family memoir) and Poverty and Muse (about NZ artist Frances Hodgkins). My third play, The Falling, is currently being produced for radio as a podcast. More about this later ...
In 2012, I started the small indie press Pūkeko Publications. See HERE
My print books (below) are available through good bookstores
Further information is on the Publications page HERE
and from [email protected]
Falling
Minnie Dean’s final journey, 1895
a radio drama
SEE VIDEO TRAILER: https://youtu.be/pLe2w-lmTeE
PREMIÈRE
Thursday 18 August 2022
Radio episodes: http://plainsfm.org.nz/prog/falling
Podcast episodes: http://plainsfm.org.nz/prog/falling
Spotify & iTunes:
search “Falling – Minnie Dean’s final journey”
featuring Eilish Moran
as Minnie Dean
directed by Yvonne Martin
recorded by Nicki Reece, Plains FM
written & produced by Karen Zelas
Minnie Dean, 1872
Falling is a radio drama in which Minnie Dean is brought to life by actor Eilish Moran. Listeners become party to Minnie’s thoughts and feelings, hear her wrestling with her past and present and the injustice she believes has befallen her. The drama allows us to explore the mind of a person who knows she is about to die, perhaps wrongly convicted.
PRIZE DRAW:
Deduce the name of the actor playing Constable Rasmussen, from material on this page and the video-trailer. Email the answer on 18 August before 12 midnight NZST, to [email protected] together with your name, email address and postal address, to go in the draw for a copy of The Trials of Minnie Dean: A verse biography (see above).
The Trials of Minnie Dean can also be purchased through this website HERE
or by emailing [email protected]
or from independent bookshops. Also available from libraries.
RADIO BROADCASTS of FALLING:
Plains FM 96.9:
There will be a morning series and an evening series, commencing on 18 August.
See http://plainsfm.org.nz/prog/falling:
Morning Evening
Episode 1: Thu 18 Aug 9:30am Sun 21 Aug 10pm
Episode 2: Fri 19 Aug 9:30am Sun 28 Aug 10pm
Episode 3: Thu 25 Aug 9:30am Sun 4 Sep 10pm
Episode 4: Fri 26 Aug 9:30am Sun 11 Sep 10pm
Additional community radio stations will also broadcast Falling. Check the website of your local station.
PODCAST EPISODES of FALLING:
All 4 podcast episodes go live through http://plainsfm.org.nz/prog/falling on Thursday 18 August.
1. The Creatives
From left: Kathleen Burns, Yvonne Martin, Geoffrey Heath, Roanna Dalziel, Tom Trevella, Eilish Moran, Cameron Douglas, Rosie Cruikshank, Karen Zelas Photo: Nicki Reece
Director Yvonne Martin
Yvonne has worked at the Court Theatre, Christchurch, as an actor/singer/director since 1979, with over 130 shows to her credit. In 1988, she was created an Associate of The Court. She has appeared in diverse roles in straight plays and musical theatre throughout New Zealand and directed stage productions for The Court, NASDA and Christchurch Repertory Theatre. TV and film credits include, Shortland Street; Starlight Hotel; and Births, Deaths, and Marriages.
Eilish Moran
Eilish is an Associate of The Court Theatre and has performed in 80 productions for the theatre. She has been a Playschool Presenter, a reporter for the series Money and featured in Gaylene Preston's series Hope and Wire. Eilish is also a primary school teacher.
Tom Trevella
Tom works as a stage, screen and voice actor. Recently, he featured in Peninsula, a short film shot and produced on Banks Peninsula, which was selected to appear in the TriBeCa film festival in New York. In June 2021, he performed a solo show, 2Graves, written by Paul Sellar, at the Lyttelton Arts Factory.
Kathleen Burns
Kathleen Burns has nearly twenty years’ experience in the industry. She began her career as an improviser in Scared Scriptless, is a graduate of NASDA, and performs in theatres all over the country. From Dylan Thomas's Under Milkwood, to Willy Russell's Educating Rita, to an evil Sea Witch in The Little Mermaid, she relishes any theatrical challenge that comes her way. Her hilarious web series Sextortion can be found on tvnzondemand.co.nz
Cameron Douglas
Cameron is a graduate of NASDA. His professional theatre debut was at The Court Theatre in My Fair Lady and he has since performed in numerous productions, most recently A Streetcar Named Desire, Jersey Boys and Once. Other theatre highlights include Red; Avenue Q (Fortune Theatre); Poor Boy; Oliver; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Auckland Theatre Company); Assassins (Silo Theatre Company) and being an original cast member of That Bloody Woman. Cameron’s professional experience also spans television and music. He is the lead singer and acoustic guitarist of New Zealand’s premiere skiffle rock and roll band, The Goldonies. His television credits include Outrageous Fortune; Legend of the Seeker and One Night Only.
Geoffrey Heath
Geoffrey Heath, a professional actor since 1979, first appeared at Fortune Theatre in Dunedin. His association with Christchurch was in 1980 at The Court Theatre. Then followed several years in the North Island, appearing at Downstage in Wellington, Centrepoint at Palmerston North and numerous productions for TV and radio. In 1992, returning to Christchurch, Geoffrey started a long association with The Court Theatre, in a wide variety of roles and productions, and was made an Associate of The Court in 2011.
Roanna Dalziel
In London, Roanna self-produced a short season of her work Lost in Thought and then an abridged version of Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Acting highlights include: Beanie Brown (a bald nurse) on Shortland Street, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing for Black Cat Theatre, Lady Macbeth for Cambridge Shakespeare Festival and Moira in the UK premier of Foreskin's Lament.
Rosie Cruickshank
Rosie Cruickshank is a writer and performance poet in Christchurch. She is a member and fierce advocate for Write On School for Young Writers and Cashmere High School Writer's Group. Her works can be found in Catalyst, Re-Draft, Write On and whatever other amateur publications she is currently working on. She loves speaking to daunting crowds, tragic skateboarding attempts and writing really nerdy art history essays.
I live and write in Christchurch, New Zealand. I have been writing full time since 2006, when I ceased practice as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist. My broad experience of life and living informs my writing.
My first novel – Past Perfect – was first published in 2010 by Wily Publications, Christchurch, and republished by Interactive Publications, Brisbane, Australia, in 2012. My second novel – Resolutions – has been released by Pūkeko Publications in December 2020 as an ebook only.
I am the author of four books of poetry: the first – Night’s Glass Table – was awarded the 2012 IP Picks Best First Book by the publisher Interactive Publications; most recent collections are I am Minerva and The Trials of Minnie Dean: a verse biography (Submarine imprint, Mākaro Press, 2016 and 2017 respectively).
I have edited two anthologies of New Zealand writing: Crest to Crest: Impressions of Canterbury: prose & poetry (Wily Publications, 2009) and, together with Joanna Preston, broken lines / in charcoal (Pūkeko Publications, 2020), a book of contemporary poetry by Christchurch poets.
I am also a playwright and have had two plays produced: Geography of Loss (a family memoir) and Poverty and Muse (about NZ artist Frances Hodgkins). My third play, The Falling, is currently being produced for radio as a podcast. More about this later ...
In 2012, I started the small indie press Pūkeko Publications. See HERE
My print books (below) are available through good bookstores
Further information is on the Publications page HERE
and from [email protected]
Resolutions
When Lawyer for Children Rebecca Eaton is invited by martinet Jacqueline Thompson to be her Junior Counsel in a murder/infanticide trial, Rebecca sees a path to achieving her ambition of becoming a partner in the law firm. How can she know this will trip a series of events that challenge all the beliefs and plans that give her world structure, purpose and peace?
Pressure mounts as a Family Court case escalates to tragedy. Rebecca is grief-stricken and feels unreasonably responsible. Her competence is questioned, media hound her…
But deep in the lush and rugged bush country of New Zealand, her intense involvement with a Māori family causes Rebecca to risk opening doors, to risk loving and being hurt …
‘This is storytelling at its most thought-provoking and gripping. Rebecca Eaton wrestles with the practicalities and cultural sensitivities of protecting families in distress. Underpinning the narrative tension, post-quake Christchurch, the wild West Coast and the brooding water and bush of Marlborough Sounds come alive in the author's deft hands.’ – Gail Ingram
‘Karen Zelas skilfully combines the elements of tension, pace, friction and urgency to create a novel which has the reader turning pages. The characters are engaging, and the visual and atmospheric images of South Island, New Zealand, evocative. Resolutions is literary crime fiction at its best.’ – Paddy Richardson
ISBN: 978-0-473-57930-2 (softcover)
ISBN: 978-0-473-55442-2 (ebook)
Softcover publication: Available from good bookshops, libraries and through this website.
The ebook is available from Amazon Kindle Store.
The Trials of Minnie Dean: A verse biography
Minnie Dean: the first - and only - woman to be hanged in New Zealand. Baby farmer and child murderer, or hardworking wife and mother, supporting her family and caring for unwanted children in a society that shunned her?
Minnie Dean's trials and tribulations are explored using a myriad of voices, including Dean's own, from her childhood in Scotland to the gallows in Invercargill in 1895. The poet herself appears as a psychiatrist re-examining witnesses from Dean's trial.
ISBN: 978-0-9941299-9-4
First published: 2017
Reprinted: 2020
Cover image: William Carden-Horton
Publisher: Mākaro Press (Submarine imprint)
196 pages
Minnie Dean: the first - and only - woman to be hanged in New Zealand. Baby farmer and child murderer, or hardworking wife and mother, supporting her family and caring for unwanted children in a society that shunned her?
Minnie Dean's trials and tribulations are explored using a myriad of voices, including Dean's own, from her childhood in Scotland to the gallows in Invercargill in 1895. The poet herself appears as a psychiatrist re-examining witnesses from Dean's trial.
ISBN: 978-0-9941299-9-4
First published: 2017
Reprinted: 2020
Cover image: William Carden-Horton
Publisher: Mākaro Press (Submarine imprint)
196 pages
I am Minerva
'begins with a light-hearted selfie and ends with the writer's realisation that - like the goddess Minerva - she is a custodian of words and creativity and even wisdom. A poet no less ... Karen Zelas explores with intense fascination the people and histories that inform her life.'
ISBN: 978-0-9941299-7-0
Published: 2016
Cover image: Girl (With Offered Eyes) by Seraphine Pick, 2004.
Oil on canvas. 1800 x 1200mm. Private collection.
Courtesy of the artist & Michael Lett Gallery, Auckland
Publisher: Mākaro Press (Submarine imprint)
Pages: 189
Night's Glass Table
'The poems in Night's Glass Table are tight and emotionally powerful, and deal with themes such as death, grief and love. Zelas chooses her words with care, and her poems are always eloquent and evocative. She demonstrates a sound use of conventions, and her writing is well-crafted and technically excellent.'
Received the 2012 IP Picks Best First Book award.
ISBN: 9781921869914
Published: 2014
Cover image: Henry Zelas
Publisher: Interactive Publications (Interactive Press imprint)
Pages: 87
feathers unfettered: 25 New Zealand Birds
These playful, yet scientifically accurate poems about our native birds are each illustrated by an imaginative pen and ink drawing by Hawkes Bay artist Jan FitzGerald; Māori designs are revealed woven into the birds' feathers.
ISBN: 978-0-473-28797-9
Published: 2014
Cover image: Jan FitzGerald
Publisher: Pūkeko Publications
Pages: 63
