Susan Battye (born 1950) is a New Zealand playwright and drama teacher. In 2024 Battye was appointed an Officer of the

New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit () is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant (document), royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of New Zealand, Queen of New Zealand, "for th ...

for services to performing arts education.

Education

Battye was born in 1950. She attended Christchurch Girls High School, and then completed a Bachelor of Arts at the

University of Canterbury The University of Canterbury (UC; ; postnominal abbreviation ''Cantuar.'' or ''Cant.'' for ''Cantuariensis'', the Latin name for Canterbury) is a public research university based in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was founded in 1873 as Canterbur ...

in 1974. She trained as a teacher at Christchurch Teachers' College, and then studied at

Newcastle University Newcastle University (legally the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) is a public research university based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It has overseas campuses in Singapore and Malaysia. The university is a red brick university and a mem ...

under

Dorothy Heathcote Dorothy Heathcote MBE (29 August 1926 – 8 October 2011) was a British drama teacher and academic who used the method of " teacher in role" as an approach to teaching across the curriculum in schools and later in other settings. She was a ...

in 1979, earning a Diploma in Drama and Education. Battye also gained a

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA or AM) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Those admitted to the degree have ...

in Education Studies from

Loughborough University of Technology Loughborough University (abbreviated as ''Lough'' or ''Lboro'' for Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a public university, public research university in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. It has been a university sinc ...

in 1993.

Career

Battye worked at

Greymouth High School Greymouth High School is one of two post-primary schools in Greymouth, New Zealand. The other is John Paul II High School. It is the largest school on the West Coast of New Zealand with a roll of students. As of 2021 the principal is Samantha ...

from 1974 until 1983, when she moved to Epsom Girls Grammar School, where she became Head of Drama. She also taught and managed the Bachelor of Māori Performing Arts programme at

Te Wānanga O Aotearoa Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is a Māori people, Māori university and tertiary education provider with over 80 campuses throughout New Zealand. The indigenous-led organisation works towards "whānau transformation through education" including the r ...

. Battye's plays include ''The Shadow of the Valley'' (with Thelma Eakin), first performed in 1977 in Greymouth and published by Oxford University Press in 1980, which reconstructs the 1896 Brunner Mine disaster. Battye and Eakin also wrote a historical novel based on the play, ''The Mine’s Afire'', which was shortlisted for the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards in 2010. Other published plays include ''Living In'', ''Easy as Pie'', ''Not for School but for Life'' and ''Radio Waves''. ''The Singing Lesson'', published in 1992, is based on a

Katherine Mansfield Kathleen Mansfield Murry (née Beauchamp; 14 October 1888 – 9 January 1923) was a New Zealand writer and critic who was an important figure in the Literary modernism, modernist movement. Her works are celebrated across the world and have been ...

short story. Battye also co-wrote ''Ponsonby Road'' with Tim Bray. Battye was the founding president of the New Zealand Association for Drama in Education (now known as Drama NZ), which was established in 1985.

Honours and awards

In the

2024 New Year Honours The 2024 New Year Honours are appointments by some of the 15 Commonwealth realms to Orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms, various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Hono ...

, Battye was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to performing arts education.

References

External links

*
Dance and Drama in Uganda, The Pearl of Africa Screener
', collaboration between Battye and Ugandan playwright, researcher, teacher and folklore exponent, Dr Mercy Mirembe Ntangaare {{DEFAULTSORT:Battye, Susan New Zealand dramatists and playwrights Academic staff of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Alumni of Loughborough University University of Canterbury alumni Alumni of Newcastle University People educated at Christchurch Girls' High School Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit New Zealand women writers 1950 births Living people