Duffy Books in Homes is an institution among many New Zealand primary school students. It’s a literacy programme aimed at breaking the cycle of ‘booklessness’ amongst children at low decile schools throughout the country, gifting books and bringing them to life through the work of Duffy Theatre.
Since it was established as a charitable foundation in 1994, the programme has grown to encompass over 520 schools and over 280 early childhood centres, more than 100,000 students and more than 200 funding partners, supporters and donors in 2018. More than 12 million books had been distributed in that time and the Duffy Books in Homes programme has inspired offshoot programmes in Australia and the USA.
Unitec graduate Forrest Denize as ‘Duffy’ (centre, with the green hat) with students at Meannee School in Hawkes Bay. Her cast mates were Molly Weaver, left and Frankie Browne, right.
Creative Industries (PASA) has enjoyed a strong relationship with Duffy Books over a number of years through their regular employment of our graduates and use of our spaces. Duffy Books has just signed on three acting grads for its nationwide tour in 2019 – Anya Wood, Emma-Rose Owens (both 2018 grads) and 2016 grad, Dylan Underwood.
John Davies, Senior lecturer in Performing & Screen Arts and Academic Leader in Acting Stage & Screen, says that our graduates are a perfect fit for the Duffy programme – “We train our graduates to be story-tellers in an imaginative and collaborative way. We also train them to be committed and passionate and to maintain very high standards.” Equally, he says, the schools-based theatre environment gives recent graduates a good grounding in mobile productions, with the often-demanding schedules requiring them to be agile and creative, while also coping with the challenges of living and working together for ten months of the year.
Duffy Theatre comprises two teams of three travelling actors each. The show schedule starts in February and runs until mid-November, travelling the length of the country from Te Hapua in the Far North to Bluff at the bottom of the South Island. Every year there’s a character called Duffy in the show, including a 12-year-old reading superhero and last year saw another Unitec graduate, Forrest Denize, play the first female Duffy.
David Rumney, Production Manager for Duffy Books in Homes, is also one our graduates and was a Duffy actor before he took up his current role. He recruits the teams of actors and co-ordinates with the programme’s director Jeff Szusterman, a New Zealand stage and television actor and voice artist known for playing ‘Master Xandred’ on Power Rangers Samurai.
Rehearsals for the 2019 season will start at the Unitec Studios this week.