Sir Roger Leighton Hall KNZM QSO (born 17 January 1939) is one of New
Zealand's most successful playwrights, arguably best known for
comedies that carry a vein of social criticism and feelings of
pathos.[1]Hall was born in Woodford, Essex, England,[2] and educated
at London's University College School from 1952 until 1955, when he
embarked on a career in insurance. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1957
and continued to work in insurance, also performing in amateur theatre
in the city of Wellington. He continued to act while attending
Wellington Teachers’ College and Victoria University of Wellington;
fellow actor John Clarke praised his impression of then Prime Minister
Keith Holyoake as the template for all others. Hall began writing
plays for children while teaching, which included a spell at
Berhampore School, Wellington.[1] He became a naturalised New
Zealander in 1980.[2]Hall began writing for television in the 1960s
â€" over the next four decades his television output would grow to
include one-off plays, documentaries, pioneering New Zealand
television series Buck House and Pukemanu and time on political satire
Spin Doctors. Alongside his writing, he appeared on-screen with actor
Grant Tilly on 60s sketch show In View of the Circumstances.[3]
Zealand's most successful playwrights, arguably best known for
comedies that carry a vein of social criticism and feelings of
pathos.[1]Hall was born in Woodford, Essex, England,[2] and educated
at London's University College School from 1952 until 1955, when he
embarked on a career in insurance. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1957
and continued to work in insurance, also performing in amateur theatre
in the city of Wellington. He continued to act while attending
Wellington Teachers’ College and Victoria University of Wellington;
fellow actor John Clarke praised his impression of then Prime Minister
Keith Holyoake as the template for all others. Hall began writing
plays for children while teaching, which included a spell at
Berhampore School, Wellington.[1] He became a naturalised New
Zealander in 1980.[2]Hall began writing for television in the 1960s
â€" over the next four decades his television output would grow to
include one-off plays, documentaries, pioneering New Zealand
television series Buck House and Pukemanu and time on political satire
Spin Doctors. Alongside his writing, he appeared on-screen with actor
Grant Tilly on 60s sketch show In View of the Circumstances.[3]
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