Directing
LIFE EDUCATION TRUST
2024 School Tour
Directed by Belinda Campbell
SMART$ was produced by Life Education to focus on financial literacy as a core life skill. Presented through a theatre-in-education performance and workshop, SMART$ is supported by an online interactive web site in school classrooms.
BEHIND THE SCENES concentrates on the impacts of youth vaping and supports students to develop strategies to respond to the influences of peer and social media pressure.
School of Rock - The Musical
Book by Julian Fellows, Lyrics by Glenn Slater, Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
10-18 November 2023
War Memorial Theatre
Musical Theatre Gisborne
Directed by Belinda Campbell
Musical Directed by Waiora Paul-Utiera
SYNOPSIS
Based on the hit movie starring Jack Black - An out-of-work rock singer and guitarist pretends to be a substitute teacher, forms a rock band with their class of students and enters the battle of the bands. What could go wrong?
REVIEW
"Director Belinda Campbell has done a great job getting the most out of her talented cast" - The Gisborne Herald
MEDIA
Gisborne Hip-hop dancers to compete on world stage, The Gisborne Herald
School of Rock Ready to Roll, The Gisborne Herald
Exploring His New Passion, The Gisborne Herald
Top Girls
by Caryl Churchill
SYNOPSIS
This dramatic, sometimes surreal and darkly funny work explores women’s lives under the patriarchy, and the sacrifices we make on the path to ‘the top’ of an individualist, capitalist structure.
REVIEWS
"All of the highly competent cast...play multiple roles and do it with skill, cleverly adapting their voices and bodies to each part." - Tanya Piejus, Regional News
AWARDS
Theatre New Zealand Poster Exhibition winner - Design by June Ha.
Apartment
by Tama Smith
August 2022
Gryphon Theatre
Wellington Repertory Theatre
Directed by Tama Smith and Belinda Campbell
Performed by members of the community in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
SYNOPSIS
Bitter-sweet and locally-focused the new play Apartment explores the intersection of the lives of a cluster of characters, living in the close quarters of an apartment block, as their world is pitched into the 2020 Lockdown.
REVIEWS
"I attribute the strength of the performance to the writing, the directing and, of course, the performers because Apartment is set in April 2020 but it’s not about COVID, it’s about people." - Sean Burnett Dugdale-Martin, Art Murmurs
Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare
17 to 21 May 2022
Studio 77, Victoria University Wellington
Royal-Tea Productions
Directed by Lori Leigh
Assistant Directed by Belinda Campbell
Performed by third year theatre students at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University Wellington.
SYNOPSIS
Festivities abound as Governor Leonata and her household welcome an illustrious party of princes and returning soldiers to their not-so-humble abode in Messina. In a world where secrets flow like champagne, villains and lovers will collide in what is sure to be much ado about… nothing!
This isn’t the Much Ado you’ve seen before… Shakespeare’s beloved rom-com has been revitalised for a 2022 audience with a queer central romance. What was once a battle of the sexes is more a skirmish of wits and rumours set against a backdrop of wealth and luxury. With personalities this big and gossip this scandalous, Much Ado is a Must See.
Paper Jam
Created by Imaginaries Theatre
25 to 29 Jan 2022
BATS Theatre
Six Degrees Festival
Directed by Belinda Campbell
Performed by Anna Barker, Zoe Christall, Dylan Hutton, Daniel Nodder.
SYNOPSIS
Sal's totally broke and caught in a whirlwind of work. Things are bound to get better soon, right? Not today! Not only have we run out of company saliva, but Graham’s on about Cockburn again! Till an old friend returns... Biscuit. Has Sal finally had too many cups of coffee? Why has the floor turned to lava? In another reality, there’s a PAPER JAM.
DETAILS
The final project in my Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice), Paper Jam is a devised work that included Touch tours, Integrated Audio Description, Relaxed Performance, and NZSL Interpretation. Along with directing this highly collaborative project, I assisted with producing, marketing, publicity, creating accessible content and leading work that valued accessibility and environmental sustainability throughout.
REVIEWS
"From this joyful and thoughtful production, it’s clear that Wellington theatre’s next generation of creatives is in great form." - Tanya Piejus, Regional News
INTERVIEWS
With Simon Howard at Wellington Access Radio - Arts and Theatre (16:50).
The Addams Family
Music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice
11 to 19 Dec 2020
Lawson Field Theatre
Produced by Musical Theatre Gisborne
Directed by Belinda Campbell
Performed by community members of Tūranganui-a-Kiwa .
SYNOPSIS
A hilarious and quirky musical comedy, based on the characters of Charles Addams.
The Addams Family Musical tells the story of love and friendship through adversity, with a comical and macabre yet poignant spin.
DETAILS
Returning to Aotearoa and my hometown of Tūranganui-a-Kiwa to direct this musical, I worked closely with local designers and community members to bring this ghoulish musical to life. While acknowledging the incredible Addams Family cannon, my goal was to bring our own unique flavour to characters.
REVIEWS
"From principals to ancestors each character is clearly defined from the beginning and throughout the show the performers continuously connect with one another, and the audience" - Mark Peters, The Gisborne Herald
"Belinda Campbell-directed production splatters laughs" - The Gisborne Herald
How I Met My Dead Husband
by Lansy Feng
22 Aug - 7 Sept 2019
Bluestone Church Arts Space
Produced by Wit Incorporated
Directed by Belinda Campbell
Written and performed by Lansy Feng
SYNOPSIS
When a determined woman chases true love, even Buddha can't stop her. Chuen-Jiau stands before family, friends and loved ones to give a eulogy for her husband Yueh. Nobody expects a story spanning four entire lifetimes. A sweet and funny cabaret funeral that'll take you on a reincarnating journey of love, confusion and hope.
DETAILS
The third iteration of this beautiful cabaret, I worked closely with Lansy Feng as director and dramaturg of this touching remount production.
REVIEWS
“A stunning combination of surreal beauty and earthy reality, How I Met My Dead Husband is a top rate cabaret and shouldn’t be missed.” - What Did She Think
“the director, Belinda Campbell has a wealth of angles to draw from... Her passion and support make this beautiful art flourish.” - Weekend Notes
Ophelia Thinks Harder
by Jean Betts
9 to 24 November 2018
Bluestone Church Arts Space
Produced by Wit Incorporated
Directed by Belinda Campbell
Performed by Sarah Clarke, Ruby Lauret, Matt Tester, Leigh Scully, Lansy Feng, Aimee Marich, Artemis Munro, Sam Anderson and Jennifer Piper
SYNOPSIS
The King is dead, the Queen has married his brother, the Prince is a hazard and the new King is a puppet. Meanwhile, Ophelia tries to please. Ophelia wonders why she is not enough. Ophelia is fed up, so Ophelia thinks harder. ‘How come I turned into a woman!!? Can’t I just stay a person?’ A hilarious rethink of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy – only this time Ophelia gets all the best lines.
DETAILS
Staging in traverse, with a striking checkerboard linking two end stages, I worked closely with designers to create a vibrant, pop-culture loaded production, supporting the rich text with 90s chart-toppers.
REVIEWS
“Betts’s play, wonderfully directed by Belinda Campbell…“ - Milk Bar Mag
“Belinda Campbell directs the performance of “Ophelia Thinks Harder” and once you see the show I’m sure you’ll agree she does a stellar job.” - Tay Around Town
A Scandal in the Weimar
by Claire Bowen and Jennifer Piper
25 Aug to 9 Sept 2017
Bluestone Church Arts Space
Due West Festival
Produced by Wit Incorporated
Directed by Belinda Campbell
Performed by Sarah Clarke, Emma Choy, Kimberley Heberley, Tanya Hendy, Ebony McGuire and Jennifer Piper
SYNOPSIS
It's London, 1939. Tensions are building as war seems imminent. Lady Sherlock Holmes and Dr Jean Watson are engaged by Diana, Lady Mosley to track down Irene Adler in Berlin and retrieve sensitive information. But all is not as it seems.
DETAILS
In partnership with Due West Festival, our immersive production decorated Bluestone Church Arts Space in the style of a 1930's underground Kabarett, with cabaret seating and a post-show open mic. Along with supporting the skilled performers to bring out the rich characters, I worked closely with the writers to streamline dialogue and sharpen the script.
REVIEWS
"A Scandal in the Weimar finds its origins in the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes story, A Scandal in Bohemia. This wit incorporated version flips gender roles and addresses issues of place.... As place is such an integral part of both the story and message, it’s pleasing to note the stand out sets." - Stage Whispers
Couch Potato
by Hayley Lawson-Smith
12 to 27 Feb 2016
Bluestone Church Arts Space
Produced by Wit Incorporated
Directed by Belinda Campbell
Performed by Mark Salvestro, Jennifer Piper, Jessica Lawrence and Luke Styles.
SYNOPSIS
This is the story of how one small break-in saved a family. Robert lives with his parents. They've been dead for years, but he's still there and nothing has changed. Then The Girl appears. On the couch. Asleep.
This absurd new Australian comedy explores the way we navigate grief, family, relationships and love – usually while saying the exact opposite of what we mean.
DETAILS
My first exploration of carboard sets, we slowly uncovered each item with the awakening of the central character. If I were to tackle this piece again, I would rework with my intersection-feminist values.