Kathleen Gallagher (New Zealand writer)
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Kathleen Gallagher (born 1957) is a playwright, filmmaker, poet, and novelist from New Zealand.[1][2][3][4]
Gallagher was born in Christchurch, New Zealand.[1]
Career
She started writing at age 18[1] and was writing plays for theatre by 1984.[5] Gallagher has written and produced at least 15 plays,[2][1] working with the Blue Ladder Theatre Group and the Women's Action Theatre[1] Her plays have been performed on stage and on radio, in New Zealand and in Australia.[1][3] She has also published three collections.[1] Another New Zealand poet, Dame Fiona Kidman, described her work saying "the presentation of these poem is exquisite, the work itself is interesting and image laden, often delicate in style."[1]
Gallagher is an advocate for peace, and has directed multiple documentaries on the environment, spirituality, and the peace movement.[2] These include the documentary Peaceful Pacific, and the documentary Tau Te Mauri – Breath of Peace, which describes New Zealand's peace movement towards becoming nuclear-free.[1] The film Seven Rivers Walking – Haere Mārire, which she co-directed with Galyene Barns, premiered at the 2017 NZ International Film Festival.[6]
Gallagher has an ATCL in drama from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, a BA in history and religious studies from the University of Canterbury, and a Postgraduate Diploma in accounting from Victoria University of Wellington.[1] She has worked as an accountant and has lectured accounting and taxation at the University of Auckland and Nelson Polytechnic.[1]
Awards
New Zealand Playwrights Award 1993 – winner[5][3]
New Zealand Radio Awards 1996 – finalist for Charlie Bloom[1][5][3]
New Zealand Media Peace Awards 1996 – finalist for Charlie Bloom[1][5][3]
Sonja Davies Peace Award 2004 – winner for Tau Te Mauri – Breath of Peace[1][7]
World Peace Film and Music Festival – commended for He Oranga, He Oranga[1]
