Victor John Rodger

Victor John Rodger (born 1969) is a New Zealand journalist, actor and award-winning playwright of Samoan and Pākehā heritage. Rodger's play Sons won acclaim at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards and received the Best New Writer and Most Outstanding New New Zealand Play awards. In 2001, he won the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award. Other plays include Ranterstantrum (2002) and My Name is Gary Cooper (2007), produced and staged by Auckland Theatre Company and starred a Samoan cast including Robbie Magasiva, Anapela Polataivao, Goretti Chadwick and Kiwi actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand. Biography Rodger was born in Christchurch in 1969. Rodger's father is from the village of Iva from Savai'i island in Samoa.

Rodger spent two years studying at Toi Whakaari, the New Zealand Drama School in Wellington graduating in 1997. based at the University of Hawaiʻi.

His play Ranterstantrum (2002) was commissioned for the biennial New Zealand International Festival of the Arts. Erotic, funny and full of machete-sharp dialogue, one of our most daring contemporary playwrights offers a new insight into the steamy side of Paradise. Sian Robertson, Theatreview, 2007. His acting roles include Stickmen (2001), Mercy Peak and a recurring role on Shortland Street as Dr. Henry Mapasua.

Awards In 2013, Rodger was awarded the Contemporary Pacific Art Award at the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifka Awards. In the 2021 New Year Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to theatre and Pacific arts.

Selected plays Ranterstantrum (2002) My Name Is Gary Cooper (2007) - Auckland Theatre Company, Maidment Theatre. Director Roy Ward, set design Mark MacIntyre, costume Elizabeth Whiting. Cast: Nora Aati, Goretti Chadwick, Damien Harrison, Robbie Magasiva, Anapela Polata'ivao, Roy Snow, Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Liesha Ward Knox Black Faggot (2014) Club Paradiso (2015) Girl On A Corner (2015) - Auckland Fringe & Auckland Pride. Basement Theatre, Auckland. Directed by Anapela Polataivao. Cast: Amanaki Prescott At The Wake (2018) - Circa Theatre. Directed by Jane Yonge, designed by Sean Coyle. Cast: Lisa Harrow, Marco Alosio, Jerome Leota. Sons - premiered at The Court Theatre, Christchurch (1995) Uma Lava (2019) - First produced by FCC, at Circa Theatre, directed by Vela Manusaute. Cast: Goretti Chadwick, Mario Faumui, Anapela Polata'ivao Lockdown La Ronde (2020) - First produced by Toi Whakaari at BATS Theatre, directed by Jarod Rawiri.

Selected publications 2008 Sons: Huia Publishers, 128 pages. , 2012 My Name Is Gary Cooper, published in Urbanesia: Four Pasifika Plays: Playmarket Play Series.