Actress, Singer, Playwright. April is one of New Zealand’s most licensed playwrights and her fast-paced comedy STiFF has performed to sold-out audiences all over New Zealand, Norfolk Island and now Australia.  STiFF had its British premiere at Questors Theatre, London in May 2009.

April was born in Coventry, England.  Her professional theatre career began as a company actor with the Four Seasons Theatre in Wanganui in the mid-late 1980s.  She attributes her 'basic training' to NZ theatre legend director David Smiles, with whom she performed in many classic comedies and farces.

She gained world-wide attention in 1983 when, at the age of 17, she appeared in a production of Charley's Aunt opposite HRH The Prince Edward.

As an actress, April has performed in theatres all over the country.  Her TV work includes being part of the core case of TV’s satirical comedy McPhail and Gadsby for 2 seasons.  Her other television and film acting credits include  Cover Story I & II, The Frighteners, First Impressions, Duggan, The Strip, The Lost Children, The Lovely Bones, and an as-yet-unnamed TV drama due on New Zealand screens later in 2009.

April honed her comedy writing skills as a member of the acclaimed and award winning 'Hens Teeth' female comedy troupe for 10 years.  Her comedy is sharply influenced by the British TV shows she grew up with such as Fawlty Towers, Dad’s Army and It Ain’t Half Hot Mum to name a few.

In 1996 April co-wrote and performed in Fluxion at Bats Theatre.  She produced and appeared in her first full-length play, Killing Me Softly at Taki Rua Theatre later that year.  This hard hitting exploration of assisted suicide is a play for three women.

April’s full length comedy STiFF is an irreverent and outrageous treatment of two subjects which are normally handled very cautiously: Funeral Parlours and Prostitution.  STiFF was one of four plays selected for the 2002 Adam Playreading Series, and was performed at Downstage Theatre, directed by Murray Lynch.  In 2003, STiFF won 3rd place in the PANZ play writing competition.

April’s musical play Blue Eyes won the 2003 Stellar Award for Best Musical Production and was performed at Circa Theatre, Wellington.  Her musical stage show Unforgettable has been performed at Old St Paul’s in Wellington, the Globe Theatre in Palmerston North and at jazz festivals around the country.

www.aprilphillips.com