Actress, musician, producer and Fringe Festival Director Vanessa Stacey Photo: Supplied
Wellington-based producer, writer, and director Vanessa Stacey is a jack of all creative trades. With more than two decades of experience, her extensive portfolio spans theatre, film, music, and television. Currently, she serves as the Director of the New Zealand Fringe Festival.
Stacey joins Culture 101 to play Fast Favourites.
The 35th Fringe Festival is set to take place in Wellington next March, a notable event that has historically launched the careers of many Aotearoa artists, including Flight of the Conchords and Rose Matafeo. Looking ahead to 2025, Stacey envisions a festival that pushes boundaries, emphasising open access and diversity across a wide range of artistic offerings.
In addition to her festival work, Stacey has made her mark on New Zealand television, appearing in series such as Far North, Wellington Paranormal, and Peter Jackson's film Heavenly Creatures. More recently, she stars as Angelina in the fantastical film Bookworm, alongside Elijah Wood and young actress Nell Fisher, whom Stacey considers a remarkable talent.
In 2021, she portrayed Doris in Cousins, directed by Briar Grace-Smith and Ainsley Gardner. This film, based on Patricia Grace’s 1992 novel, resonated deeply with Stacey, reflecting elements of her own family story.
For her Fast Favourites selection, Stacey has chosen a new waiata by MĀ, titled Pūhā me te Porohewa, an artist she has programmed for Cuba Dupa’s Nga Toi o Te Aro stage in 2024.
