User:Hughesofnewton/sandbox

= Ian Hughes (Actor,Director,Writer) = Ian Hughes is an Actor, Director and writer, best known for acting roles in Lord of the Rings Return of the King, the Independent feature film Topless Woman Talk About Their Lives and for writing and performing his Man show Ship Songs, he has also many hours of television directing primarily for serial drama Shortland Street (over 500 episodes) and Home and Away (45+ Episodes) as well as his short film The Waiting Room Staring Sara Wiseman and Stephan Papps.

Early life
Ian Hughes was born in Vancouver, Canada, to parents Robert Hughes and Gabrielle Barker, who were both born in the UK. However, they met and married in Canada before emigrating to New Zealand when Ian was two years old. He grew up in the West of Auckland and attended Laingholm Primary School, Glen Eden Intermediate and Green Bay High School. He has an older sister, Rachel Hughes

Career
Ian Hughes studied at the Elam School of Fine Arts at Auckland University and graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture. During the last part of his final year, he auditioned for a part in a children's pantomime by the acclaimed physical theatre company Theatre at Large. In 1991, he was in the self-devised production Henry 8 again by Theatre at Large and began working regularly as an actor in Auckland. He played various parts in short films, television, and features during the 1990s.

In 1998, he was in Toa Fraser's debt Play Bare with Madeleine Sami. After its first season at the Basement theatre in Auckland Ian Hughes took over as Producer as well, taking the show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1999. The show toured extensively in New Zealand, Australia - including a sellout season at the Sydney Opera House, and the UK, eventually performing over 160 times.

He wrote, acted, and directed his first short film, The Waiting Room, which was funded through The New Zealand Film Commission and went on to screen internationally. In 1996, he bought voice-over agency Bigmouth Voices from Yevone Duddman and ran the business for seven years before selling it to Sarah McLeod.

He was also part of the core cast of the TVNZ soap Shortland Street, playing Martin "Sticky" Stickwell from 2002 to 2004. He was nominated for a Best Actor award in Undergrowth, a short film by Oscar-winning Art Director Grant Major. He appeared in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King as Irolas. The part was originally called Beragond, a prominent character from the books but was renamed in post-production.

In 2012, he began directing full time and became a regular director for Shortland Street, having now directed over 500 episodes. He has also directed the second series of children's television show Kune's Kitchen for TVNZ and episodes of the comedy/drama Step Dave for TVNZ2. In 2004 he was part of a group who self-funded and released on DVD the comedy Bogans, He executive produced as well as playing Ray, one of three guys who try to audition for Lord of the Rings. It notably included a cameo by Peter Jackson. He directed the TVC for New Zealand Labour Party in 2017 the year Jacinda Ardern was thrust into the leadership with only fourteen weeks before the election.

In 2008, he presented his one-man theatre show called Ship Songs, based on the story of how his parents met in Canada, with original music by Don McGlashin. Originally commissioned by ATC, it toured the country and was reworked in 2010 for the Wellington Arts Festival to include live music from Don McGlashin, Chris O'Connor, and Dave Khan. Ian Hughes is currently reworking the script as a screenplay.

"The script is flawless as is Hughes’ seamlessly transitions between characters"

In 2022, he began directing for Home and Away on Channel 7 in Australia and has been a semi-regular on the show, directing 30 episodes to date.

In 2023 he played Raf Beckman the lead in Things that Matter, a stage adaption of notable Emergency intensivist at Middlemore Hospital David Galler memoir of the same name. Producer by ATC and written by Gary Henderson. A contemporary examination of the New Zealand Health system it received rave reviews. Notably it was canceled in it first season on opening night in 2021 by New Zealand's second Covid lockdown.

THEATRE
2023Things That Matter, 'Rafal Beckman' Rafal Beckman Dir: Anapela Polata'ivao

2012Ship Songs, 'Various (solo show)' Q Theatre Dir: Anna Marbrook

2010TOYS, 'Michael Jackson Figurine' Basement Theatre Dir: Cameron Rhodes & Toby Leach

2010Mojo, 'Mickey' Basement Theatre Dir: Jeff Szusterman

2009The SEXY RECESSION Show, 'Guest Star' TAPAC Dir: Eve Gordon

2008Ship Songs, 'Various (solo show)' Auckland Theatre Company Dir: Anna Marbrook

2003Beautiful Losers, 'Jack' Silo Theatre Dir: Margaret Mary Hollins

Personal life
Ian Hughes has been in a de facto relationship with producer Cass Avery since 1994. Together they have two children, Frankie Valentine (2000 - present) and Joe Valentine (2004 - present).