Alan Mervyn Brunton (14 October 1946 â€" 27 June 2002)[1] was a New
Zealand poet and playwright.Brunton was born in Christchurch and
educated at Hamilton Boys' High School, the University of Auckland and
Victoria University of Wellington. He was founding editor of Freed,
and in 1970 Brunton moved to Europe and Asia, publishing Messengers in
Blackface (1973, London). From 1974â€"78 he co-founded an experimental
theatre group, Red Mole with his partner Sally Rodwell.[2] He
co-edited Spleen 1976â€"77. He lived his latter years at Island Bay, a
suburb of Wellington. He died in Amsterdam in 2002 during a visit to
Europe.[3]Alan Brunton's work was interwoven between his poetry and
theatre. He performed as part of the troupe in Red Mole in many venues
including in the 1970s Carmen's Balcony in Wellington, New Zealand.
Carmen's Balcony was a notorious nightclub run by Carmen Rupe.[4] His
colleague Arthur Baysting was performing there too and says of his
work: "Alan’s political eye could be sharp and droll: “the
vaudeville king of politics is calling names again on the radio …
how much gin does He drink in a day?†(Sally’s Turn to Talk). On a
good night, in the face of drunken calls for the live rock band or
topless dancers, he could silence the packed crowds with a tender,
softly spoken love song."[5]Brunton has also edited and co-edited a
number of publications.
Zealand poet and playwright.Brunton was born in Christchurch and
educated at Hamilton Boys' High School, the University of Auckland and
Victoria University of Wellington. He was founding editor of Freed,
and in 1970 Brunton moved to Europe and Asia, publishing Messengers in
Blackface (1973, London). From 1974â€"78 he co-founded an experimental
theatre group, Red Mole with his partner Sally Rodwell.[2] He
co-edited Spleen 1976â€"77. He lived his latter years at Island Bay, a
suburb of Wellington. He died in Amsterdam in 2002 during a visit to
Europe.[3]Alan Brunton's work was interwoven between his poetry and
theatre. He performed as part of the troupe in Red Mole in many venues
including in the 1970s Carmen's Balcony in Wellington, New Zealand.
Carmen's Balcony was a notorious nightclub run by Carmen Rupe.[4] His
colleague Arthur Baysting was performing there too and says of his
work: "Alan’s political eye could be sharp and droll: “the
vaudeville king of politics is calling names again on the radio …
how much gin does He drink in a day?†(Sally’s Turn to Talk). On a
good night, in the face of drunken calls for the live rock band or
topless dancers, he could silence the packed crowds with a tender,
softly spoken love song."[5]Brunton has also edited and co-edited a
number of publications.
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