Bruce Mason
Encyclopedia
Bruce Edward George Mason, CBE
(September 28, 1921 – December 31, 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.
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.
, 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 honourary degree by Victoria University
. He was also a theatre critic for the capital's newspapers from the 1950s to the 1980s.
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.
is also named after him. The centre was opened in 1996 and contains a 1164 seat auditorium. The Playwright 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
.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(September 28, 1921 – December 31, 1982) was a significant playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
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
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
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
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
, and fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
writer.
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
Ian Mune
Ian Barry Mune, OBE is a New Zealand character actor and director. He co-wrote and starred in Roger Donaldson's first film, Sleeping Dogs. He also directed Came a Hot Friday, which featured comedian Billy T. James as the Tainui Kid, and What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, the sequel to Once Were...
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
Pakeha
Pākehā is a Māori language word for New Zealanders who are "of European descent". They are mostly descended from British and to a lesser extent Irish settlers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, although some Pākehā have Dutch, Scandinavian, German, Yugoslav or other ancestry...
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
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
The Cherry Orchard
The Cherry Orchard
The Cherry Orchard is Russian playwright Anton Chekhov's last play. It premiered at the Moscow Art Theatre 17 January 1904 in a production directed by Constantin Stanislavski. Chekhov intended this play as a comedy and it does contain some elements of farce; however, Stanislavski insisted on...
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
Hongi
A hongi is a traditional Māori greeting in New Zealand. It is done by pressing one's nose and forehead to another person at an encounter....
which focus on Māori culture post European contact.
Background
Mason was born in WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, the country's capital. At the age of 5, his family moved to Takapuna
Takapuna
Takapuna is a central, coastal suburb of North Shore City, located in the northern North Island of New Zealand, at the beginning of a south-east-facing peninsula forming the northern side of the Waitemata Harbour...
. 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
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
(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
Downstage Theatre
The Downstage Theatre is a theatre in Wellington, New Zealand, and the country's longest running professional theatre, established in 1964.The founders at the inaugural meeting in the Wellington Public Library on 15 May 1964 were actors Peter Bland, Tim Elliott and Martyn Sanderson, with...
, New Zealand's first professional theatre in 1964 and wrote a weekly column Music on the Air for the New Zealand Listener
New Zealand Listener
The New Zealand Listener is a New Zealand magazine. First published in 1939 and edited by Oliver Duff and the Monte Holcroft it originally had a monopoly on the publication of of upcoming television and radio programmes. In the 1980s it lost its monopoly on the publication of upcoming television...
from 1964 to 1969. In 1977, he was awarded an honourary degree by Victoria University
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
. 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 CollegeVictoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
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 AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
is also named after him. The centre was opened in 1996 and contains a 1164 seat auditorium. The Playwright Cafe displays Bruce Mason memorabilia, including his original desk and typewriter.
In 2009, The Pohutukawa Tree was staged by Auckland Theatre Company
Auckland Theatre Company
Auckland Theatre Company is the largest professional theatre company in Auckland, New Zealand. It was founded in 1992 following the bankruptcy of Mercury Theatre, Auckland's original professional theatre company which had been the largest subsidised company in the country.The current artistic...
, directed by Colin McColl
Colin McColl (director)
Colin McColl ONZM is a distinguished director in theatre, opera and television from New Zealand. He is a leading figure in the world of professional theatre in the country, winning numerous awards as well as working internationally with major national companies. McColl's career spans more than 30...
and starring Rena Owen
Rena Owen
Rena Owen is a New Zealand actress in film, theatre and television. She is of Maori, Torres Strait Islander and Pakeha descent. Owen is most well known in the lead role of Beth in the cult classic movie Once Were Warriors directed by Lee Tamahori...
and Stuart Devenie
Stuart Devenie
Stuart Forbes Devenie is an actor and theatre director in New Zealand whose career spans three decades on stage and screen. He has performed in theatre productions nationally and internationally. In the 1980s, he was the Artistic Director of Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerston North and has been a...
.
Plays
- The Evening Paper 1953
- The Bonds of Love 1953
- The Verdict 1955
- While Birds in the Wilderness 1957
- The End of the Golden Weather (first performed in 1959)
- The Pohutukawa Tree 1960, revised 1963 (first performed at a theatre workshop in 1957)
- The Light Enlarging 1963
- We Don't Want Your Sort Here 1963
- To Russia with Love 1965
- The Waters of Silence 1965
- The Hand on the Rail 1967
- Swan Song 1967
- Hongi 1968, published 1974
- Awatea 1969
- Zero In 1970
- Not Christmas, but Guy Fawkes 1976
- Courting Blackbird 1976
- Blood of the Lamb 1981