Jean Betts is a London born New Zealand playwright, actor and
director.Jean Betts emigrated with her parents, both founders of Unity
Theatre, London, to Christchurch, New Zealand. She obtained a degree
at University of Canterbury in English Literature and New Zealand and
Pacific History.[1] Betts graduated from Toi Whakaari: the New Zealand
Drama School in 1970, the inaugural year when its founder, Nola
Millar, was principal. Her classmates were Elizabeth Coulter, Jennifer
Ludlam, Denise Maunder, Joanna Miekle, John Otto, William (Bill)
Petley, Darien Takle and Bevan Wilson.[2]Jean Betts has written many
plays including Revenge of the Amazons, Ophelia Thinks Harder, The
Collective and The Misandrist.[3] The Collective is dramatisation of
the story of Bertolt Brecht's theatre collective based on the
principle that the collective are the owners of the work that Brecht
took credit for.[4]For many years Jean Betts worked as an actor and
director at Gateway, BATS, Downstage Theatre and Circa Theatre. She
was involved with the development of professional theatre in New
Zealand including as a foundation member of Playmarket (New Zealand,
1975), Circa Theatre (Wellington, 1976) and Taki Rua/The Depot Theatre
(Wellington, 1983).[5][6]
director.Jean Betts emigrated with her parents, both founders of Unity
Theatre, London, to Christchurch, New Zealand. She obtained a degree
at University of Canterbury in English Literature and New Zealand and
Pacific History.[1] Betts graduated from Toi Whakaari: the New Zealand
Drama School in 1970, the inaugural year when its founder, Nola
Millar, was principal. Her classmates were Elizabeth Coulter, Jennifer
Ludlam, Denise Maunder, Joanna Miekle, John Otto, William (Bill)
Petley, Darien Takle and Bevan Wilson.[2]Jean Betts has written many
plays including Revenge of the Amazons, Ophelia Thinks Harder, The
Collective and The Misandrist.[3] The Collective is dramatisation of
the story of Bertolt Brecht's theatre collective based on the
principle that the collective are the owners of the work that Brecht
took credit for.[4]For many years Jean Betts worked as an actor and
director at Gateway, BATS, Downstage Theatre and Circa Theatre. She
was involved with the development of professional theatre in New
Zealand including as a foundation member of Playmarket (New Zealand,
1975), Circa Theatre (Wellington, 1976) and Taki Rua/The Depot Theatre
(Wellington, 1983).[5][6]
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