Once on Chunuk Bair by Maurice Shadbolt.

Directed by Paul Roukchan

A sobering and staggering story, a tale of tragedy, heroism and heartbreak, of when 760 men from the Wellington Infantry battalion fought on Chunuk Bair while British reinforcements stayed put.

This play is one of New Zealand’s most powerful and defining war dramas. It follows the men of the Wellington Battalion during WWI's Gallipoli campaign as they bravely suffer much loss during their capture of the Chunuk Bair heights in August 1915.

It’s a story of leadership, courage, sacrifice & the Kiwi spirit – exploring the cost of war and the birth of national identity.

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Company Theatre

Information 

Venue: The Rose Theatre, 4 School Road, Belmont, Auckland

Running Time: 2 hours plus 20 minutes of interval

Standard Prices:

Adult - $30.00

Senior Gold card (65+) - $27.00

Student - $27.00  School Student - $15.00

Company Theatre Member - $27.00

Saturday Special:

$22 tickets - Opening Saturday 9 May performance only

Performance Times

Saturday 9 May 7.30pm — Saturday Special - Opening Night

Sunday 10 May 2.00pm — Matinee 

Wednesday 13 May 7.30pm

Thursday 14 May 7.30pm

Friday 15 May 7.30pm

Saturday 16 May 4.00pm —  NEW TIME  

Sunday 17 May  2.00pm — Matinee 

Wednesday 20 May 7.30pm

Thursday 21 May  7.30pm

Friday 22 May  7.30pm

Saturday 23 May 7.30pm — Closing Night


CAST
Colonel William Connolly: Karl Buckley
Sergeant Frank South: Michael Hallows
Lieutenant Harkness: Francis Mountjoy
Smiler: Hamish Davies
Porky: Jared Abel
Holy: Scott Cutler
Otaki George: Jordan Wallace-Leef
Bassett: Chris McRae
Lofty: Jonathan Dunn
Mac: Connor Charlesworth
Scruffy: Sam Cutler
Fred: Daniel Rundle
Nobby, Dusty, and a Soldier: by Jack Hanrahan

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director and Poster Design: Paul Roukchan
Production Managers: Stephen Hood, Kathy Gent
Stage Manager: Vettinia Ross  Back Stage: Ozana Pinter 
Set Design: Scott Thomas
Set Build: Scott Thomas, assisted by Brendan Rossiter, Tony Sandy, Stephen Hood, Phil Searle, Vettinia Ross and The Cast. 
Set Painting:  Miriam Bradley, Caroline Parker, Tony Sandy
Props and Set Dressing: Vettinia Ross
Sound & Lighting Design and Operation: Stephen Hood
Costumes: Suzy Sampson with Kathy Gent
Make-Up and Special Effects: Cody Cope assisted by Ezra Valentine Armed Combat Training: Alexander Holloway
Publicity: Kathy Gent     Social Media: Suzy Sampson
Programme: Catherine Maunsell   Website: Sherry Ede 
Front of House: Lesley Hawkey and volunteers
Box Office: Kathy Gent  
Bar Manager: Sherry Ede and volunteers 

With thanks to Kathryn Nobbs Photography. 

<b>KARL BUCKLEY</b>

KARL BUCKLEY

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It has been 18 years since Karl last appeared on the Company Theatre stage, as Rene in their production of 'Allo 'Allo. Since then he has focused mainly on directing, with appearances for Centrestage Theatre as Lloyd in Noises Off, and for Point Blank Productions as Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon.

After directing more than 40 productions, highlights included The Talented Mr Ripley, A Few Good Men, Popcorn, and Noises Off for several theatres north of the bridge, and Pride and Prejudice for Company Theatre in 2011.

Once On Chunuk Bair holds a special place in his heart - directing it for Mairangi Players in 2004, and Orewa College in 2014. Paul was part of the cast in 2004, so Karl is enjoying being able to reconnect over this production. The Chunuk Bair story is entwined in the emergence of New Zealand as a nation in its own right - exploring ideas of duty, honour, camaraderie and bravery.

It is great to be working with the Company Theatre team again - with Paul's expertise as director and the very talented cast and crew.


<b>DANIEL RUNDLE</b>

DANIEL RUNDLE

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Daniel has acted in numerous plays and short films. He graduated from The Actor's Program in 2024, and has been acting in short films, commercials and amateur feature films. 

This will be the first theatre show he has done since graduating from the course and he is very excited to share the story and experience of the soldiers who experienced Chunuk Bair. 

This is Daniel's first time with  Company Theatre and is looking forward to having fun with everyone involved.'

<b>SCOTT CUTLER</b>

SCOTT CUTLER

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Scott Cutler is delighted to be making his debut with Company Theatre in Once on Chunuk Bair, performing the role of Holy. Previous performances at Centrestage Theatre include Tootsie, Les Misérables, Strictly Ballroom, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Oliver!. Over the past year, Scott has appeared at the Playhouse Theatre Glen Eden in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and at Titirangi Theatre in The Cripple of Inishmaan. Approaching the role of Holy has deepened his understanding of nuanced, character-driven work, particularly in bringing historical events to life with realism, honesty, and respect.

Scott would like to thank Paul and Vettinia for their commitment to the project, along with the Company Theatre team and his fellow cast members. He also extends a special thank you to his wife and family for their ongoing support—especially for the opportunity to share the stage with his son, which has been a truly special experience.

<b>CONNOR CHARLESWORTH</b>

CONNOR CHARLESWORTH

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Connor is a New Zealand actor who, after leaving high school, trained and worked in London for several years. He studied at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts and the Guildford School of Acting, and was also a member of the UK National Youth Theatre.

His stage credits include The Importance of Being Earnest (The Actors Church, Covent Garden; The Chelsea Playhouse),

Against, Consensual, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as new writing productions such as Beat Poetry and a stage adaptation of Le Morte d’Arthur.

Now back in Aotearoa, he is excited to continue developing his craft and building connections within the local theatre community.

Connor has found working on Mac in Chunuk Bair, to be an exploration of the shift from strength and certainty into something more fragile and uncertain, particularly enjoying the discovery of quieter,  more human moments within a character who initially presents as strong and assured.

<b>SAM CUTLER</b>

SAM CUTLER

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Sam is an emerging performer with a strong passion for musical theatre, having primarily taken on supporting roles throughout his stage experience. His previous credits include Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls and Jean-Michel in Cinderella (Rodgers and Hammerstein edition). He has also appeared in smaller speaking roles in productions such as Elf: The Musical, and had the opportunity to perform internationally at JTF Australia, where he portrayed Buddy and Gerald the Elephant in the New Works Showcase of Elephant & Piggie.

In Chunuk Bair, Sam takes on the role of Scruffy, a character defined by his youthful innocence. While Scruffy is eager to ask questions and engage with the world around him, he often struggles to fully grasp the answers he receives. Despite this, his thoughtful tendencies add an unexpected depth to the character, making him both endearing and lovable.

<b>MICHAEL HALLOWS</b>

MICHAEL HALLOWS

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Michael is excited to be making his Company Theatre debut and once again to be working with Paul Roukchan, who directed him in the highly successful 2025 production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
Sergeant Frank South represents the ordinary 'kiwi' solider. Pragmatic. Grounded. With an unromantic,  view of the harsh realities of war. Not blindly following a chain of command,  increasingly out of touch with its men.

<b>CHRIS McRAE</b>

CHRIS McRAE

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This is Chris’s first endeavour with Company Theatre, and he is thrilled to be joining them in the role of sedulous sapper, Corporal Bassett.

A graduate of the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA) and holding a degree in Classical Voice from the University of Auckland, Chris is experienced in a wide range of theatrical genres, from plays and cabarets to musicals and operas.

His professional theatre credits include Amadeus, The Mikado, The Emperor’s New Clothes, Mary Poppins and Jesus Christ Superstar (The Court Theatre); national tours of South Pacific, Oklahoma!, HMS Pinafore, and Saturday Night Fever (Ben McDonald); The Last 5 Years (Kindle Theatre); and Rock of Ages (Magnitude). His television credits include Black Hands, as well as studio vocals for the Aotearoa musical comedy Happiness.

Chris also works regularly with New Zealand Opera, with productions including Sweeney Todd, Carmen, Tosca, The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Unruly Tourists. Most recently, he appeared as Parpignol in La Bohème.

Alongside his performing career, Chris is completing his PhD in Musicology at the University of Auckland. When not on stage or in the studio, he can often be found tucked away in the stacks of the university library. 

<b>FRANCIS MOUNTJOY</b>

FRANCIS MOUNTJOY

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Francis is excited to be playing Lieutenant Harkness in Once on Chunuk Bair. After performing in The 39 Steps and Murdered to Death last year, he is thrilled to be treading the boards once again at the Rose Centre. He has loved being part of this production and is grateful for the chance to help bring this powerful story to life alongside such a talented cast and crew. He hopes you enjoy the show.

<b>JARED ABEL</b>

JARED ABEL

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Appearing for the first time at Company Theatre, Jared is a locally sourced, mostly organic, GMO-free actor and voiceover artist.

He has recently appeared in Playhouse Theatre's production of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest', Ellerslie Theatrical Society's 'Our Man in Havanna' and the Dolphin Theatre's production of 'Arcadia'. Jared has also been a recurring featured performer in fan favorite Auckland variety show, Codeword Cabaret.

As Porky, Jared has sought to find the desperate and vanishing humanity in Chunuk Bair's resident smart-ass.

<b>HAMISH DAVIES</b>

HAMISH DAVIES

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Once on Chunuk Bair marks Hamish’s debut with Company Theatre and second time working with Paul Roukchan, after playing Billy Claven in Titirangi Theatre’s The Cripple of Inishmaan in 2025. Playing Smiler has been a particularly fun challenge for Hamish, given the complexity of portraying a story based on true events. Hamish has enjoyed finding Smiler’s humanity, relating to his dependable nature and lack of enthusiasm for endless warfare. 

Growing up, Hamish has always commemorated ANZAC Day with his family, playing The Last Post and Reveille for many years at his local service. His great-grandfather was part of the 9th Auckland Rifle Brigade that fought in WWI so Hamish is very grateful to have the opportunity to both relearn about his ancestry through this process and realise the great privilege in being able to tell the story from the stage.

<b>JORDAN WALLACE-LEEF</b>

JORDAN WALLACE-LEEF

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Jordan is a new gen theatre performer in his second theatre production with his first being One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest for which he was nominated for an ACTT award for best performance of a side character. Jordan is known for his raw charisma and out of this world personality.  In his spare time he enjoys Dungeons And Dragons as well as LARPing. He hopes you enjoy this show!

<b>JACK HANRAHAN</b>

JACK HANRAHAN

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Jack has been involved in theatre on and off the stage for the past 20 years. Jack is a graduate of NASDA (National Academy of Singing and the Dramatic Arts) as well as a fully trained and qualified Performing Arts Teacher. He is currently teaching at Mt Roskill Grammar.

Most recently, he directed a successful season of The Last 5 Years at the Pumphouse Theatre. This is Jack's first play with Company Theatre and he is looking forward to playing the shows cannon fodder. Hope you enjoy the show.

<b>JONATHAN DUNN</b>

JONATHAN DUNN

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Jonathan Dunn is also known as Jay Jay and studies at South Seas Film School.  He is an actor who has been on Shortland Street, and other T.V. shows. In 2014 he performed in "HAMP" by John Wilson , another powerful World War 1 play. 

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Director Reg Williams | Production Manager Stephen Hood, Kathy Gent | Stage Manager Lucy Stuart  |  Set Design / Construction Manager Brendon Cannan  | Lighting and Sound Design Stephen Hood | Sound and Lighting Operation Stephen Hood  | Props Vettinia Ross, Sarah Dettwiler  |  Set Construction and Painting  Tony Sandy, Caroline Parker, Scott Thomas, Brendon Cannan, Stephen Hood, Anne Rimmer   | Costumes Cathie Sandy |Assistant Stage Manager  Vettinia Ross |Poster Design Stephen Hood, Reg Williams | Programme Paul Thompson  | Facebook, Instagram, Newsletter Stephen Hood | Website Sherry Ede | Billboards Alastair Fletcher, Stephen Hood | Box office Sarah Dettwiler, Kathy Gent | Bar Manager Alastair Fletcher | Front of House Lesley Hawkey | Intimacy Advisor  Suzy Sampson |  Rehearsal Photography Kieran Maskell and thank you to friends of Company Theatre who volunteer on our front of house. 

Company Theatre

THE DIRECTOR

PAUL ROUKCHAN

Paul Roukchan is delighted to be back at Company Theatre for the first time in ten years; this time in the director’s chair rather than on stage as an actor. Paul has been involved in Auckland theatre for over two decades as both an actor and director, and continues to balance his stage work alongside a career in the film industry as a writer and producer, while also appearing as an actor on the Australian television series Bay of Fires.

As a director, Paul has enjoyed a number of recent successes. His production of M*A*S*H received Outstanding Comedy at the 2022 ACTT Awards, followed by 12 Angry Jurors, which was awarded Outstanding Play at the 2023 NAPTA Awards. Most recently, Paul was awarded with Outstanding Direction of a Play at the 2025 NAPTA Awards held in March for his production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Paul feels incredibly fortunate to be returning to Company Theatre with such a powerful and important New Zealand story, and to be collaborating with a talented cast and crew to bring Shadbolt’s remarkable play to the stage. Its gong to be fun.

Chunuk Bair

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