Director, choreographer and educator Hamish Mouat cannot imagine a life without musical theatre. He was born in Wellington, but moved to Auckland at seven years old, and started his career as part of the ensemble of Oliver in primary school. In high school he moved backstage, directing, choreography and producing, and now works full-time for G&T Productions.
A huge part of his passion is educational theatre – he runs a youth theatre programme with four friends. Encore Theatre Collective is his proudest achievement and he often works with more than 1,500 young performers each year.
Here is Hamish’s Shameless Plug.
The moment I knew I wanted to be an artist was when I was four years old. My sister was taking local drama classes, and I couldn’t join until I was five. I have such vivid memories of standing outside with Mum, nose pressed against the glass doors, counting down the weeks until I was old enough to join. Sometimes, the teacher would let me participate in the last activity of the class, and I knew then that this was something I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing.
My guilty pleasures are rollercoasters and theme park rides. I am an absolute sucker for a good theme park and am a total adrenaline ride junkie. If I could split my time between the theatre and Disneyland, I’d be a very happy person!
The one Aotearoa arts event I never miss is the Northern Area Performance Trust Awards. Each year, the NAPTAs are an evening of celebration within the community musical theatre scene. We get the opportunity to be together, catch up with great friends (that you often only see in the theatre foyer), and honour the work of so many volunteers from Kerikeri to Pukekohe – people who give so much to keep the arts alive in Aotearoa. It’s always such a fun evening and I try to make it a priority not to miss it.
My personal motto is: Hard work inspires hard work. Over the years, my work ethic has been shaped by mentors and collaborators who instill a sense of pride in being dedicated to your art. I always try to direct and teach with that mantra. If I lead by that example, it elevates all those around me, and in turn, elevates the work, and our collective pride in it.
The person who has taught me the most of how to do what I do is my mentor, Kathie Urban. Kathie, at 76 years old, runs MET2, an educational theatre company in the USA that has been running for over 40 years. In the past ten years of working for and with her, it is hard to encompass just how much I have learned, in watching her run and lead a theatre company. She is the hardest working person I’ve ever met. Her daughter, Alison Bretches, is the Artistic Director of the company, and I look up to this powerhouse duo so much. I credit a huge amount of what I am able to do in my career to them both.
My biggest inspiration is my immediate family. I would never admit it to them, but the people I think about the most as a potential audience in a rehearsal room are my parents. I get both excited and nervous when I’m watching something unfold in a creative space and think “what will Mum and Dad think?”. My sister and brother-in-law are incredible parents themselves, raising my two nieces – who are four and one – and have already nurtured in them a love of music, dance and performance. I am absolutely counting down the days until I can direct them in their first show. Becoming an uncle has really put my priorities in life into perspective in ways I never imagined it would, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
My favourite arts space is Auckland’s Civic Theatre. As the home of musical theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau, the grandeur of the Civic is something very special. Having worked on many shows there over the past 20 years, I still love exploring the space that the public won’t usually see – there are rooms upon rooms upon rooms, and being anywhere in the venue offers a real sense of magic that I haven’t ever felt in any other theatre I’ve worked in.
The best place in my city is Takapuna. Swimming at the Brett Ave beach, enjoying a Duck Island Ice-Cream, a quick drink at Taylors on Hurstmere, and a show at the Bruce Mason – what more could you ask for!
My all time favourite musical is Cats… I can hear half the readership groaning from here, but I absolutely adore the show. There’s something about the music that just speaks to me, and Gillian Lynne’s original choreography is, in my opinion, unmatched. I got to direct and choreograph the show eight years ago with a cast of 300 young performers, and it’s still a show I am very proud of.
My favourite TV show is Survivor – although I’ve been pretty slack in watching it recently. I love reality game shows where intellect is just as important as physical prowess. It is such a complex game, and it is GRIPPING! You couldn’t write those twists!!
My shameless plug is the New Zealand premiere of & Juliet is coming to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch from April – June. & Juliet flips the script on Shakespeare’s timeless Romeo & Juliet, and asks the question: what if Juliet didn’t die?
The musical is set to the incredible music of Max Martin, with songs such as ‘Since U Been Gone’, ‘It’s My Life’ and ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’, and is written by David West-Read (writer of Schitt’s Creek), so it’s a winning combination. The cast are all kiwis, and are among the most exceptional talents I’ve ever come across. It’s been a privilege to direct this show and work with the incredible people involved. This is the hottest ticket of the year!
Auckland: 9 April – 3 May, Civic Theatre
Wellington: 9 May – 24 May, St James Theatre
Christchurch: 30 May – 13 June, Isaac Theatre Royal
Tickets available from www.andjuliet.co.nz
