Jesse Peach
Encyclopedia
Jesse Peach is a New Zealand
director, actor and television reporter.
with a Bachelor of Communication Studies degree in 2005.
(1999–2001).
He is arguably best known for his work on 3 News
.
at Lopdell House in Titirangi, West Auckland. This was followed by The Glass Menagerie
in 2006 and Equus
in 2007, both at the Glen Eden Playhouse.
In April 2008, PTC had an successful season of the musical Blood Brothers, directed by Peach and starring New Zealand actors Annie Whittle
and Ray Woolf, as well as newcomers Ashley Hawkes and Nicolas Kyle. This was PTC's first musical.
Peach then directed a sell-out season of the New Zealand comedy Niu Sila, starring Ashley Hawkes and Fasitua Amosa (Sione's Wedding
), in May 2008. Niu Sila was written by Oscar Kightley
and Dave Armstrong, who also wrote popular New Zealand cartoon television series bro'Town
. Peach's production was the first time Niu Sila had been staged without the original cast.
In 2009, Peach directed a successful season of The History Boys
starring George Henare in Peach Theatre's debut at Auckland's Maidment Theatre, the city's premiere venue for plays.
In 2010 Peach was invited to direct The Cape for Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerston North, and also directed 2 shows for his own company; the first, the highly acclaimed production of the Sondheim musical thriller Sweeney Todd, starring Michael Hurst
and Ray Columbus
at The Maidment Theatre. For this, the New Zealand Listener Magazine named Peach "Opera Director of Our Dreams" in its 2010 Arts Awards. That year he also directed the Arthur Miller
classic A View From The Bridge
featuring Shortland Street
stars Anna Jullienne
and Robbie Magasiva
at The Auckland Performing Arts Centre.
2011: Peach directed Othello
in collaboration NZ icons Douglas Wright
(Choreographer) and Gareth Farr
(Composer) at the Maidment Theatre. In September 2011 Peach will produce and direct The Wizard of Oz at New Zealand's leading theatrical venue; The Civic - of a 2350 seating capacity - starring Raymond Hawthorne, Tina Cross, Lisa Chappell
, George Henare
OBE and Opera Diva Helen Medlyn, and Olivia Tennet
as Dorothy. Peach's production of The Wizard of Oz coincides with Rugby World Cup 2011.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
director, actor and television reporter.
Education
Peach graduated from the Auckland University of TechnologyAuckland University of Technology
The Auckland University of Technology is a university in New Zealand. It was formed on 1 January 2000 when the Auckland Institute of Technology was granted university status. Its primary campus is on Wellesley Street in Auckland's Central business district...
with a Bachelor of Communication Studies degree in 2005.
Television
Peach broke into New Zealand television with his role as troubled teen Blake Crombie in Shortland StreetShortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
(1999–2001).
He is arguably best known for his work on 3 News
3 News
3 News is the television, internet and radio news service of New Zealand's TV3. Its flagship bulletin, which airs every evening at 6:00pm, is anchored by Hilary Barry and Mike McRoberts. Carolyn Robinson and Simon Shepherd are weekend and substitute anchors...
.
Theatre
In 2005, he founded Peach Theatre Company and staged Billy LiarBilly Liar
Billy Liar is a 1959 novel by Keith Waterhouse, which was later adapted into a play, a film, a musical and a TV series. The work has inspired and featured in a number of popular songs....
at Lopdell House in Titirangi, West Auckland. This was followed by The Glass Menagerie
The Glass Menagerie
The Glass Menagerie is a four-character memory play by Tennessee Williams. Williams worked on various drafts of the play prior to writing a version of it as a screenplay for MGM, to whom Williams was contracted...
in 2006 and Equus
Equus (play)
Equus is a play by Peter Shaffer written in 1973, telling the story of a psychiatrist who attempts to treat a young man who has a pathological religious fascination with horses....
in 2007, both at the Glen Eden Playhouse.
In April 2008, PTC had an successful season of the musical Blood Brothers, directed by Peach and starring New Zealand actors Annie Whittle
Annie Whittle
Annie Whittle is a British-born New Zealand singer and actress who has appeared on such shows as Shortland Street, where she played Barbara Heywood for four years and has had a singing career that has spanned three decades....
and Ray Woolf, as well as newcomers Ashley Hawkes and Nicolas Kyle. This was PTC's first musical.
Peach then directed a sell-out season of the New Zealand comedy Niu Sila, starring Ashley Hawkes and Fasitua Amosa (Sione's Wedding
Sione's Wedding
Sione's Wedding , is a 2006 comedic film directed by Chris Graham and written by James Griffin and Oscar Kightley, and produced by South Pacific Pictures.- Plot :...
), in May 2008. Niu Sila was written by Oscar Kightley
Oscar Kightley
Oscar Vai To'elau Kightley, MNZM, is a Samoan-born actor, television presenter and writer who has been a resident and citizen of New Zealand for most of his life.-Biography:He acted in and co-wrote the successful 2006 film Sione's Wedding...
and Dave Armstrong, who also wrote popular New Zealand cartoon television series bro'Town
Bro'Town
bro'Town is a New Zealand Television animated series. The show used a comedy based format, targeted at a young adult audience.The series is set amongst New Zealand's fast growing Pacific Islander community, and focuses on a central cast of five young boys...
. Peach's production was the first time Niu Sila had been staged without the original cast.
In 2009, Peach directed a successful season of The History Boys
The History Boys
The History Boys is a play by British playwright Alan Bennett. The play premiered at the Lyttelton Theatre in London on 18 May 2004. Its Broadway debut was on 23 April 2006 at the Broadhurst Theatre where there were 185 performances staged before it closed on 1 October 2006.The play won multiple...
starring George Henare in Peach Theatre's debut at Auckland's Maidment Theatre, the city's premiere venue for plays.
In 2010 Peach was invited to direct The Cape for Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerston North, and also directed 2 shows for his own company; the first, the highly acclaimed production of the Sondheim musical thriller Sweeney Todd, starring Michael Hurst
Michael Hurst
Michael Eric Hurst, ONZM is a New Zealand actor, director and writer, mostly on stage and television. He is probably best known internationally for playing Iolaus in the television programs Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and companion series Xena: Warrior Princess...
and Ray Columbus
Ray Columbus
Ray Columbus is a New Zealand solo singer and entertainer who has had a career spanning six decades. He was lead singer of Ray Columbus & the Invaders who had a hit with She's A Mod in the 1960s. Since then he has been a solo singer and television host.-Links:* *...
at The Maidment Theatre. For this, the New Zealand Listener Magazine named Peach "Opera Director of Our Dreams" in its 2010 Arts Awards. That year he also directed the Arthur Miller
Arthur Miller
Arthur Asher Miller was an American playwright and essayist. He was a prominent figure in American theatre, writing dramas that include plays such as All My Sons , Death of a Salesman , The Crucible , and A View from the Bridge .Miller was often in the public eye,...
classic A View From The Bridge
A View from the Bridge
A View from the Bridge is a play by American playwright Arthur Miller that was first staged on September 29, 1955 as a one-act verse drama with A Memory of Two Mondays at the Coronet Theatre on Broadway. The play was unsuccessful and Miller subsequently revised the play to contain two acts; this...
featuring Shortland Street
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
stars Anna Jullienne
Anna Jullienne
Anna Jullienne Kermode is a New Zealand actress, best known for her role as Nurse Maia Jefferies in the television series Shortland Street. Maia is a beautiful and talented young nurse who happens to be a lesbian...
and Robbie Magasiva
Robbie Magasiva
Robbie Magasiva is a Samoan New Zealand actor who has starred in several films and as a member of the Naked Samoans comedy troupe. He has also appeared on television and theatre, and was the co-presenter of New Zealand's Tagata Pasifika with famed athlete Beatrice Faumuina. Magasiva is also known...
at The Auckland Performing Arts Centre.
2011: Peach directed Othello
Othello
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...
in collaboration NZ icons Douglas Wright
Douglas Wright
Douglas Wright may refer to:*Douglas E Wright , Canadian horror writer*Douglas Wright *Douglas Wright * Douglas Tyndall Wright , Canadian civil engineer...
(Choreographer) and Gareth Farr
Gareth Farr
Gareth Vincent Farr ONZM is a New Zealand composer and percussionist. He has released a number of classical CDs and composed a number of works performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Royal New Zealand Ballet...
(Composer) at the Maidment Theatre. In September 2011 Peach will produce and direct The Wizard of Oz at New Zealand's leading theatrical venue; The Civic - of a 2350 seating capacity - starring Raymond Hawthorne, Tina Cross, Lisa Chappell
Lisa Chappell
Lisa Irene Chappell is an actress and musician from Auckland, New Zealand. She is best known for playing Claire McLeod on the Nine Network drama series McLeod's Daughters.-Early life and career:...
, George Henare
George Henare
George Winiata Henare, CNZM, OBE is an acclaimed New Zealand actor with a distinguished career spanning more than three decades.-Biography:In 1988, he was awarded an OBE for Services to Theatre...
OBE and Opera Diva Helen Medlyn, and Olivia Tennet
Olivia Tennet
Olivia Tennet is a New Zealand actress and dancer. She has been active as an actress since 1999 and is mostly known for her role as Tuesday Warner on the New Zealand medical drama Shortland Street.-Career:...
as Dorothy. Peach's production of The Wizard of Oz coincides with Rugby World Cup 2011.