Sarah Delahunty (born 1952) is a New Zealand writer and director who was born in

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

. An award-winning playwright, Delahunty has written over 30 plays, often focussing on works for youth. In the

2015 Queen's Birthday Honours The 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as p ...

, Delahunty was appointed a

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ren ...

, for services to theatre.

Life

Delahunty was born in Wellington, and grew up there with her sister, politician

Catherine Delahunty Catherine Delahunty (born 1953) is a New Zealand politician and environmentalist. From until 2017 she was a member of parliament in the House of Representatives representing the Green Party. During her time as an MP she served variously as the ...

. Sarah enrolled at the

New Zealand Drama School New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

but found it boring and left after ten days. She then worked at

Downstage Theatre Downstage Theatre was a professional theatre company in Wellington, New Zealand, that ran from 1964 to 2013. For many years it occupied the purpose-built Hannah Playhouse building. Former directors include Sunny Amey, Mervyn Thompson, and Coli ...

, before getting a lead role on soap opera ''Close to Home''.

Awards

* Best Theatre, NZ Fringe Festival ''Affinity'' * 2012 Playmarket's Plays for the Young Competition ''The Beanstalkers'' * 2009 Playmarket's Plays for Young Competition ''2b or not 2b'' * 2008 Pick of the Fringe ''2b or not 2b'' * 1987

Bruce Mason Playwriting Award The Bruce Mason Playwriting Award is an annual award that recognises the work of an outstanding emerging New Zealand playwright. The winner is decided by the votes of a panel of leading New Zealand artistic directors and script advisors. The ...

Publications

''Two Plays Sarah Delahunty'' (Playmarket, 2009); ''2b or nt 2b'' and ''Eating the Wolf.''

Plays

* 2020 - ''#UsTwo: Six Decades of Sisterhood'' * 2019 - ''This Long Winter'' * 2018 - ''Question Time Blues'' with Catherine Delahunty * 2015 – ''Where She Stood'', nominated for 2016 Fringe Festival Residency Award * 2014 – ''4 billion likes'' * 2013 – ''Affinity'' * 2011 – ''Falling Sparrows Here or There'' * 2011 – ''Crazy Joint Love'' * 2010 – ''Song of Four'' * 2010 – ''Trusting Strangers, Counting Stars'' * 2010 – ''Inside Out'' * 2010 – ''Medea Songs'' * 2008 – ''The Antigone Project'' * 2008 – ''2b or nt 2b'' * 2007 – ''Another Planet'' * 2007 – ''Homework'' * 2006 – Superbeast * 2005 – ''Eating the Wolf'' * 2002 – ''Driving You Crazy'' * 2002 – ''The Oddity'' * 2002 – ''Lifelines'' (music by

Michelle Scullion Michelle Scullion (born 1957) is a New Zealand musician and composer. Several of her soundscapes are part of installations at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Biography Scullion grew up in Stokes Valley, on the outskirts of Wellington, ...

) * ''Time On Our Side'' * 2000 – ''Damage'' * ''Blind Date'' * ''Dear Felicity'' * 1998 – ''The Last Gasp Café'' * 1996 – ''Second Sight'' * 1992 – ''Gifts'' * ''Greener Grass'' * 1986 – ''Loose Connections'' * 1985 – ''Stretchmarks''

Plays for children

* ''The Beanstalkers'' * ''Friends Forever'' * ''Sleeping Beauty'' * ''Magic in the Air'' * ''The Emperor's New Clothes'' * ''Beauty and the Beast'' * ''Puss in Boots'' * ''The Adventures of Toad (adaptation)'' * ''Harry Under the Bed'' * ''The Frog Prince'' * ''The Tinderbox'' * ''Jack and the Beanstalk'' * ''Rumpelstiltskin'' * ''The Gingerbread Man'' * ''Snow White and Rose Red'' * ''The BFG (adaptation)'' * ''The Twits (adaptation)''

References

1952 births Living people New Zealand women dramatists and playwrights New Zealand theatre directors New Zealand women theatre directors Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit 20th-century New Zealand dramatists and playwrights 20th-century New Zealand women writers 21st-century New Zealand dramatists and playwrights 21st-century New Zealand women writers {{NewZealand-writer-stub