Premiere of wartime story

One of the feature events this La Fiesta is Kate JasonSmith’s tour de force, I’ll Tell You This For Nothing: My Mother the War Hero. The festival team is bringing this show to Whanganui for its premier performance.

Details: 7.30pm on Saturday, February 23 at Amdram Theatre, Guyton St.

Tickets via the Royal Wanganui Opera House: $25 Adults, $20 Senior/ Student/Supporter.

I’ll Tell You This for Nothing — My Mother the War Hero

Written and Performed by Kate JasonSmith

Directed by Jan Bolwell

“I’ll Tell You This for Nothing has so many things going for it, it’s hard to know where to start. It’s a tremendous story . . . a balance between personal experience and the larger historical events through which Phyllis moves. “Versatile, skilled and charismatic, Kate JasonSmith’s performance is a mighty achievement in its own right.” — Tim Stevenson, Theatreview.

At 88, Phyllis JasonSmith, an Irish woman who lived most of her life in New Zealand, was awarded France’s highest accolade for exceptional courage — the Legion d’Honneur.

A nurse with the Queen Alexandra Nursing Corps, on D-Day Phyllis was sent to the front line in France. Her hospital followed the battles through Europe, and when the war ended she was sent to nurse in the liberation of one of the most infamous Nazi Camps.

Amid this drama Phyllis found the love of her life. When peace arrived she and her husband emigrated to New Zealand and settled in Pukerua Bay near Wellington.

She retired to Coastal Villas in Paraparaumu, where she spent the last 10 years of her life. A great storyteller, Phyllis was often interviewed for radio and print.

Phyllis’ World War II tale of war, courage, romance and danger is brought to life in a 70-minute solo performance written and acted by her daughter Kate JasonSmith.

Kate grew up in Pukerua Bay, going on to an extensive career in the performing arts. Her skills include acting, directing, writing and set design around the world, though she’s best known in New Zealand as the creator and producer of the women’s comedy company Hens’ Teeth.

The script was dramaturged by international entertainer and character actor Deb Filler (Punch Me in the Stomach, Filler Up!). Jan Bolwell, solo performer — Bill Massey’s Tourists, Standing on My Hands, Here’s Hilda— has directed this play.

“This really is a superb piece of writing, and I hope it will go on and on. It needs to be told and retold.” — Pinky Agnew.