My Passion - The DAYBOY Project

"I  find myself fascinated by the shadow play, on faces and backdrops... There are uneasy shapes all the way through, unsettling and intimidating; a feeling of needing to atone for not being enough, not being a man yet, for not being stronger." 

-Hannah Molloy, 21 Sep 2020

Written by Dunedin Playwright Harrison Kennedy, DAYBOY is a play about themes of toxic masculinity,  rugby culture, vulnerability, sexuality, violence and the uncertainty of youth. 

Initially performed at Otago University's Allen Hall Theatre in 2019, DAYBOY has since had 3 seasons since, including a radio play and is going into a 4th during this years (2021) Dunedin Fringe Festival.  

I was bought onto the project at as the lighting designer in 2019 and have stayed with the production ever since. Each season of the project has offered its own unique challenges. Being one of the first shows I independently designed for, the 2019 season offered me a lot of opportunity to grow my experience and design skills. The 2020 season allowed me a lot of creative freedom and even allowed me to build portable  functioning  lamps, as well as custom make OHP gobos. During this season we began to experiment with shadow play, using the lighting to achieve additive colour mixing, we were able to create a three-dimensional, colourful shadow. 

I feel like this project has been a big part of me, and has helped me become the designer that I am today. Personally I don't think I would have half the skills I have now if I were not bought onto the project, and for that I am thankful.