Annie Goldson's film an insight into radical theatre troupe Red Mole

The story of a ground-breaking theatre troupe that emerged out of New Zealand’s counterculture in the early 1970s is the subject of Red Mole: A Romance, a new film by Professor Annie Goldson.

A social and political history, through which a poignant personal story is entwined, Red Mole: A Romance premieres at the 2023 Whānau Mārama International Film Festival running in Auckland until 6 August.

Directed, edited and produced by Professor Annie Goldson (Faculty of Arts), the documentary was filmed in Mexico, New York City and in Auckland, Wellington and Wanaka; locations meaningful to the story, says Annie.

“Red Mole’s theatre blended poetry, performance, rock music, fire-eating, puppetry, mask and political satire, defying genre and New Zealand’s conservative theatre tradition,” she says.

The troupe emerged from the University of Auckland in the 1970s, the height of the counterculture. It reached peak fame with its cabaret Capital Strut, performed on Sunday nights at Carmen’s Balcony, a famous strip club in Wellington. This was followed by the troupe’s first big written show, Ghost Rite, which opened at the Opera House nearby.

“The difference in these two locations was vast, but shows the versatility and energy of Red Mole, who performed everywhere from camping grounds and local halls to department stores and prestigious theatres.”

Soon after Ghost Rite, Red Mole took off to New York, eschewing London, the usual destination for Kiwis heading on an OE.

“The city had hit hard times, with the crack and AIDs epidemics looming, but Red Mole thrived for a time until the pressures of the city caused fractures,” Annie says.

The University of Auckland is a primary funder of the film.

“I didn’t approach industry funders, feeling they would be unlikely to support a long documentary about a pre-internet radical theatre troupe that not many people now remember,” says Annie. “But the links go beyond funding.”

Alan Brunton and Sally Rodwell, the two Red Mole founders, met at the University as students and later down the track became partners.

“Alan was a radical poet who emerged from the English Department while Sally studied theatre and was affiliated with the Auckland University Students’ Association.”

Alan and Sally were soon joined by Deborah Hunt and John Davies, and a number of others came and went.

Annie first saw Red Mole when she was a teenager. She was living in Wellington during their heyday, working as a junior journalist. When they headed to New York, she quit her job to tag along for the ride for a while, so has personal insight into that time.

Alan died suddenly in the early 2000s and Sally a few years later, leaving a daughter, Ruby Brunton, herself a talented writer and poet.

A friend of the couple, Michele Leggott, a professor of English in the Faculty of Arts and notable poet, organised for Red Mole’s huge archive to be given to Special Collections at the University library.

“This was an extraordinary resource,” says Annie. “Everything from poetry, scripts, films, videos, posters, music tracks, ephemera – that was invaluable to the film and the librarians were wonderful to work with, and very patient.”

Annie included the music of composer Ewan Collins, a recent graduate from the University’s School of Music, and the work of Heather Wallace and Harry Ashley, two Arts summer scholars.

The 90-minute film will have two screenings during the Auckland leg of the International Film Festival, showing on 4 and 5 August.

Film critic Graeme Tuckett calls the film “a blast and a joy”, while reviewer and journalist Chris Bourke notes in the festival programme that the film’s support material – archival footage, photographs, scrapbooks, stage designs, posters – is “extraordinarily rich”.

“The documentary is like witnessing Red Mole during its triumphal season at Carmen’s Balcony while experiencing the excitement and exhaustion of joining a dramatic, intellectual circus.

“As in the best theatre, there is laughter, and tears.”

By Julianne Evans