Solitude  -  The secret life of Annie Chaffey

“When the Roaring Lion calls my Henry, I’m dreaming hours down to minutes…”

In 1913 Annie enters the remote mountains of Kahurangi Nat Park to live a hidden life with her lover Henry Chaffey. Together with the hills they grow old. Forty years in raw exile, swallowed by the silence, enslaved by the fire. This beautiful, touching true story is about Annie Chaffey’s love, loneliness, loss and laughter.

DramaLab is offering you a peek inside Asbestos Cottage where Annie lives a life of solitude.  Where Queen Vicky and Aunt Daisy come to the rescue. Where jam and scones are served in Victorian dresses and the gun is always within reach. Bang! Woodhen for dinner.

Martine Baanvinger plays Annie Chaffey and created this performance in collaboration with Mark Manson who composed the music and soundscape.  An old story from a new perspective. Thanks to TDC Creative Communities for part sponsoring this performance.

Nominated for Best Actress, Best Solo Performance and Best Script and winner of best Music/Sound and at the Nelson Fringe Festival.

“I highly recommend getting along to see it. Solitude is storytelling at its finest. Writer, director and performer, Martine Baanvinger, is utterly compelling, humorous and breathtakingly honest as Annie. Not only is this an interesting New Zealand story but it is told by an expert in an incredibly imaginative and touching way.” -  Lisa Allen, Nelson Fringe Festival review.

Written, directed and performed by Martine Baanvinger

Music composed by Mark Manson

Light & Sound: Rowena Dixon

Photography & Design: Carrie Dobbs