Dianne Hambrook (Vanuatu)

Dianne Hambrook is currently on assignment as a Desktop Publisher and Graphic Design Adviser at Wan Smolbag Theatre in Vanuatu. Before she left New Zealand she and her husband Keith (also a VSA volunteer) ran their own design company in Takapuna, Auckland.

Wan Smolbag making Wan Bigfala difference

Published on 20th May 2011

Zero Balans, Wan Smolbag Theatre's latest play, has received rave reviews and every performance so far has sold out.

Here, as they used to say in the Australian TV variety show "Rove", is THE PLUG. Zero Balans, Wan Smolbag Theatre's latest play, has received rave reviews and every performance so far has sold out.

It's my job as Graphic Design Advisor at WSB to design the printed collateral to support the play: the posters, programs, invitations and signage. We decided not to put an advert in the Vanuatu Daily Post because the cost was prohibitive, and fortunately we didn't. After the first public performance a wonderful write up illustrated with a full colour photo of the poster appeared on the front page of the newspaper. We couldn't have bought advertising that good.

The play truly lives up to the hype. It's constantly astonishes me (along with other expats and volunteers in Port Vila) that theatrical work this powerful and professional is being produced here in Vanuatu. It's entertaining and energetic with a strong underlying message about political corruption and the implications of the selling of local land to foreign investors for development. Particularly timely given that there is a general election next year, and as Michael Taurakoto, WSB's CEO says in his introduction in the program, it's the vote of the people that puts politicians in power.

Have a look at the Zero Balans facebook group ( http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_199528580088710 ) It's become a fascinating forum where niVanuatu discuss their views on the current political situation.

It's my job as Graphic Design Advisor at Wan Smolbag (WSB) to design the printed collateral to support the play: the posters, programmes, invitations and signage. We decided not to put an advert in the Vanuatu Daily Post because the cost was prohibitive, and fortunately we didn't. After the first public performance a wonderful write up illustrated with a full colour photo of the poster appeared on the front page of the newspaper. We couldn't have bought advertising that good.

The play truly lives up to the hype. It constantly astonishes me (along with other expats and volunteers in Port Vila) that theatrical work this powerful and professional is being produced here in Vanuatu. It's entertaining and energetic with a strong underlying message about political corruption and the implications of selling local land to foreign investors for development. It's particularly timely given that there is a general election next year, and as Michael Taurakoto, WSB's CEO says in his introduction in the programme, it's the vote of the people that puts politicians in power.

Have a look at the Zero Balans facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_199528580088710

It's become a fascinating forum where niVanuatu discuss their views on the current political situation.

The views expressed in this blog are the author’s own and do not reflect those of VSA

1 Comments

Carolyn Mark on 24th May

I had the privilege of attending a performance by Wan Smolbag in Vila several years ago and have never forgotten it. Amazing group, and it's great to hear they are still going strong. Fantastic poster, too!