Kia ora/Hello/Dia dhuit!
My name's Max (he/him). I'm a New Zealand-British-Irish director and writer.
I work work with new writing, adaptations and on restaging classic texts (and have been part of some really excitign devising processes too!) making work that is phsyical, delicate and interested in the theatrical space as one where people come together to feel.
There is a strong movement element to my work, which often explores questions around Love, Time, and Belonging. Most of all I am interested in the extraordinariness of our ordinary lives - however that manifests in story onstoage and screen.
I trained on LAMDA's MA Directing programme and founded Southern Magpie, picking up Offie Nominations for Best Director, Best Movement and a Pub Theatres Award for Show of the Year.
I've worked as an assistant director to Olivier Award winning director Rebecca Frecknall and North Wall Artistic Director Ria Parry. And I've been mentored by Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director Mike Longhurst and Auckland Theatre Company Artistic Director Colin McColl.
I am committed to access and inclusion in the arts, and have my Level 1 British Sign Language Qualification. I have held a residency to work with young people at Bedales School and been commissioned by drama schools Mountview and LAMDA to create work for and with young people and D/deaf and disabled actors.
My first short film as writer and director 'Our Old Den' has played at festivals world wide, and was a semi-finalist at Academy Award Qualifying Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival.
Contact: max_kirk@outlook.com
:)
Some plays I love:
Waiting for Lefty by Clifford Odets
The Flick by Annie Baker
The Confessions by Alexander Zeldin
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
The Effect by Lucy Prebble
The Grain Store by Natal'ya Vorozhbit
Roots by Arnold Wesker
Constellations by Nick Payne
Gruesome Playground Injuries by Rajiv Joseph
Static by Dan Rebellato
Some films I've seen recently that I'm still thinking about:
Anora
Drive My Car
Gasoline Rainbow
Four Daughters
20th Century Women
Maestro
Me You and Everyone We Know
The Before Trilogy
Nebraska
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Some productions I'm still thinking about:
The Cherry Orchard @ Donmar Warehouse, 2024
The Cord @ The Bush Theatre, 2024
Le Passé @ L'Odéon, Paris, 2021
The Swing @ Te Rākau Hua o Te Wao Tapu, NZ, 2019
Dance Nation @ Almeida Theatre, 2018
Summer and Smoke @ Almeida, 2018
LOVE @ National Theatre, 2017
Lungs @ Paines Plough, 2016
Once @ West End, 2013
Gatz @ Elevator Repair Sevice/West End, 2012
Julius Ceasar @ Donmar Warehouse, 2012
Going Dark @ Young Vic, 2012