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​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

:)

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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

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