The Made
What if you could hand your caregiving duties to a humanoid robot with real feelings? Visionary scientist Alice is at the cutting edge of her field, striving to generate emotions in robots. But, when those robots are used for domestic service, how will they feel? As Alice nears her goal, family accusations and workplace betrayals are unleashed – along with an artificial intelligence (AI) creation that is far beyond anyone’s control. Alice and her family – child Sam and ex-husband David – are forced to grapple with what this new technology will mean for humanity and the tension between creator and creation, mother and child, perfect cyborg and imperfect human. Read more about The Made on the Auckland Theatre Company website.Emily talks about The Made on TVNZ Breakfast
Reviews and Media for The Made
REVIEWS
‘It’s been a long time since I heard a theatre audience laugh so wholeheartedly’ New Zealand Herald (PDF)
‘Sharp, hilarious and thought-provoking’ Theatrescenes
‘A hilarious romp’ NZ Arts Review
MEDIA
Talking about The Made with Emily Simpson for The Spinoff
The Made production highlights, ATC 2022
A Doll’s House
Adapted from the play by Henrik Ibsen
Nora appears to have a picture-perfect marriage, living by her environmentally conscious, family-centred values. Her husband Theo, a builder, is ambitious, successful and sexy, and their two children are bundles of joy.
But all is not what it seems in the Helmer household. As they prepare to celebrate their first Christmas in the new home they are renovating, events from the past come crashing in on the festivities. Nora’s seemingly idyllic domestic bliss suddenly becomes a suffocating trap of secrets, lies and bald truths. And Nora is left dancing for her life.
Read more about A Doll’s House on the Auckland Theatre Company website.
Reviews and Media for A Doll’s House
REVIEWS
‘The drama is thick, and tense… Perkins has lobbed a grenade onto the stage’ Metro review of the 2015 ATC production.
‘Radically revised… potently relevant’ Theatreview review of the 2015 ATC production.
‘Powerful’ Pantograph Punch review of the 2017 Circa production.
MEDIA
Emily and director Colin McColl talk about adapting Ibsen on Radio New Zealand.
Interview with NZ Herald.
Trailer for the 2019 touring production, directed by Katherine McRae
The Rehearsal
Festival Selections, Reviews and Media for The Rehearsal
FESTIVALS
2016 Toronto International Film Festival
2016 New York Film Festival
2016 BFI London Film Festival
2016 New Zealand International Film Festival
2016 Melbourne International Film Festival
2016 Vancouver International Film Festival
2016 Philadelphia International Film Festival + nominated, ‘Best Narrative Feature’
2017 Palm Springs International Film Festival
2017 Dublin International Film Festival
REVIEWS
‘crackles with intelligence and wit from its first second to its very last’ Metro Magazine
‘A narratively teasing, structurally taut and emotionally textured adaptation… sensitive and audacious in its approach to both style and story’ Screen Daily
‘the rare paean to art and performance that makes you want to join in on the experience’ Indiewire
MEDIA
Emily and director Alison Maclean talk about adapting Eleanor Catton’s novel for the screen, on RNZ
Trailer for The Rehearsal