BRIDE OF HYDE
Written by Bryn Sparks
Directed by Dan Bain
Produced by Bryn Sparks and Noosed Octopus: Theatre, etc
Lighting Design and live show operation by James Shera
Sound Design by Dan Bain
Costumes by Malthouse Costumes and the cast.
Starring
James Kupa as Hyde
Caitlin Penhey as
Connie O'Callaghan as
Sebastian Boyle as Higgins
AUTHOR'S NOTE
In 1888, during London’s Autumn of Terror, a nightmare stalked Whitechapel hunting desperate women forced by a society built on poverty, class, and inequality to work the streets by night. Those women dreamed of dignity and escape from under Victorian England’s crushing boot-heel.
My great-great-great-grandmother Sarah Fox worked those same streets from the age of sixteen. She survived. Five other women did not. Their dreams were ripped from them by the blade of a nightmare searching for his Bride. This play is dedicated to Sarah Fox and to those other women - and to all the women whose struggles for equality helped make those dreams more real.
- Bryn Sparks
CAST AND CREW
DAN BAIN - DIRECTOR/SOUND DESIGNER/PRODUCER
Dan has been a theatre director, playwright, improvisor, street performer, actor, motivational speaker, comedian, and has somehow become “one of Aotearoa’s most experienced theatre practitioners” (RNZ), since graduating from clown school in 2001.
His theatre directing credits include Let The Right One In, Titus Andronicus, Stephen King’s Misery, Ideation, and Murder on the Orient Express for The Court Theatre, Around the World in 80 Days and The Odyssey for CCC Summer Theatre, and Cancel Santa and O Little Town of Beckenham for Little Andromeda.
He directed and produced Coffin Ship for Halloween, 2025
BRYN SPARKS - PLAYWRIGHT/PRODUCER
Dr Bryn Sparks is a speculative fiction SF/horror short story writer from Linwood, Christchurch. He is a Stoker Award finalist (losing to Stephen King), Pushcart Prize nominee, and a three time finalist in L Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future award. 'Coffin Ship' marks his first sole-authored stage play, adapted from his short story "Whiskey in the Jar" first published in horror magazine as "Aoife's Kiss" (2004).
CAITLIN PENHEY
Originally from Ōtepoti, Caitlin moved to Ōtautahi to study at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts (2022). Since graduating, she has been on three school tours with New Zealand Playhouse (2023-2025), performed in numerous festivals as a bumbling clown-mime (Caterpillars 2024, 2025), and has performed in countless improvised shows in Aotearoa and Australia (Scared Scriptless, NZIF, Maestro with Impro Melbourne). Currently, Caitlin is spending her days as the interim Producer for the Court Jesters, the Court Theatre’s improv troupe. She likes to perform as often as she can, and avoids boats as much as possible! Despite this she feels so blessed to be a part of Coffin Ship.
SEBASTIAN BOYLE
Seb has circulated amongst a number of Christchurch theatre companies over the past fifteen years, including appearances for MUSOC (The Producers, Little Shop, The Sinnerman), DramaSoc (Around the World in 80 Days, Lady Windermere’s Fan), Repertory (A Streetcar Named Desire, Richard III), Canterbury Children’s Theatre, Elmwood Players (The Dumb Waiter), and Top Dog (Hamlet). He is perhaps the only actor in the greater Christchurch area to have played noted heroes Batman, Superman, and Ernest Rutherford professionally, all in the same week. He hopes you have the day you deserve.
JAMES KUPA
CONNIE O'CALLAGHAN