Desiree writes: 'Sharing a creative space with my talented classmates and Ken Duncum, or Zen-Ken, as I like to think of him, calmly and wisely guiding us through the roller coaster journey the MA undoubtedly is, was an enlightening experience.

'From the panic that set in when I changed my mind about my original screenplay, knowing that my classmates were well into their first drafts while I was still trying to figure out ideas and storylines, I learnt to trust my process. From writing my script I learnt that I love the adrenaline rush that comes when I finally get started, and that the inevitable moments of "What the hell am I doing?" are occasionally followed by flashes of "This feels amazing!" I learnt that a draft is just a base from which to launch into an editing adventure; that being open to feedback brings about gifts, and that occasionally the gift lies in sticking with what you believe is at the heart of your story. I learnt that for every "yes" there are many "no’s", and that there’s a time and place for everything so nothing you write is ever wasted.

'I liken my MA year to the beautiful tree outside the IIML. You arrive in summer, good and ready to go. Autumn brings about self-doubt and fear, which is followed by a wintery blast that leaves you exposed, forced to get real with yourself and others. Slowly but surely spring arrives and you start to glimpse the joy of creation and wish those breathtaking pink blossoms could stay like that forever… By the end of the year my screenplay had succeeded in getting Ken to shed a few tears (in a good way - bit of a class challenge and personal goal!), I had several new projects on the go, and a feeling of gratitude and excitement, albeit mixed with the ever-daunting question "Now what?" '

Bio: Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Desiree has lived in New Zealand since 1985 with her husband and three daughters. She has a BA in Modern Languages, an MA in Creative Writing – Scriptwriting (IIML), and an MA in Literary Translation – Spanish-English/English-Spanish (Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Welington).

Desiree has published a bilingual book of poetry, Next Time Around / la próxima vez (Steele Roberts). Her poetry piece 'Under the Southern Stars' was recorded and broadcast by Radio New Zealand, and seven of her poems were set to music by award winning NZ composer Dorothy Buchanan. She has had poetry published in KAUPAPA: New Zealand Poets, world issues (Ed. H. Baker & M. McMillan), Poetry NZ, Dominion Post, Taboo Haiku Anthology (North Carolina, USA). She has had short plays and films produced. Her short film Outside In, co-written with her daughter Lara, was a finalist in the 2006 Moonlight Short Film Competition in Auckland.

Desiree won the Best Stageplay Award for Nuclear Family (Script) at the 2011 Moondance International Festival Competition. Nuclear Family premiered at the 2011 Adelaide Fringe Festival, and has had acclaimed seasons at the 2011 London Solo Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Top 100 Must-See Shows list), Norden Farm Centre of the Arts, Wellington’s Circa Theatre and Auckland’s Q Theatre, all performed solo by Desirée’s daughter, Yael. Praise for Nuclear Family:

'A play that deserves to be the talk of the fringe.' (Edinburgh Fringe Review)
'An exceptional piece of theatre not to be missed!' (Fringe Benefits)
'Intricate writing and beautiful voices... a thoroughly engaging story...' (Three Weeks)
'Remarkable… heartfelt… well worth seeing.' (Dominion Post)
'Funny and gut-wrenching, riveting and moving, earnest and heartfelt… thought-provoking and exceptionally written piece performed flawlessly.' (Keeping Up With NZ)

Desiree has also been involved in various projects as script development consultant, and as a literary translator. Among her translations are 'Antonio by Sundown' by Johnny Gavlovsky, published in Been There, Read That: The Armchair Traveller’s Companion, edited by Jean Anderson (Te Herenga Waka University Press), poems by Fiona Farrell, the stageplay Niu Sila by Dave Armstrong and Oscar Kightley, the stageplay adaptation ofThe Great Gatsby by Ken Duncum, and the book Náhuatl Stories, Indigenous Tales from Mexico by Pablo Gonzáles Casanova (THWUP).

Desiree's play Caging Skies, based on the novel of the same title by Christine Leunens, had its world premiere at Wellington's Circa Theatre in 2017. It has been translated to French, Spanish, Euskera and Japanese, and will be staged in Tokyo, Japan, in December 2024, with the renowned company Gekidan Mingei.

Caging Skies follows Johannes, a zealous member of the Vienna Hitler Youth, as he discovers a fateful secret – his family is hiding a young Jewish woman, Elsa, in their home. Her life in his hands, Johannes and Elsa embark on a haunting journey that blurs the lines between the captive and the free, the victorious and the defeated, as the horrors of the war unfold around them and each must find a way to survive. Caging Skies explores truth and lies at both political and personal levels, laying bare the darkest corners of the human soul. It's a story of universal relevance and consequence, not only as an echo of past events that shook humankind to its core, but as a confronting reflection of what is currently happening all around us. (Represented by WME, NY).

'A commendably ambitious enterprise with an intriguingly international sweep... Its themes are universal and sweeping... The political and the personal meet and blend believably and movingly... Built out of oppositions and contrasts... The surprises are ingenious…'—Tim Stevenson, Theatreview

'Engaging and provocative... Amazing evocative original music... Many moments of brooding silence, dramatic tension and heartfelt raw and emotional interactions.'—Ewen Coleman, Dominion Post

'A play that will resonate with many people... Very powerful.'—David Farrar, Kiwiblog

'The play is both chilling and hopeful... Gezentsvey shows that war and violence not only occur in the streets, but often rage in the depths of our hearts as well... It is only after the applause ends and the lights come up that we remember we’ve been watching a play, and not reality.' —Rachel Pommeyrol, Scoop

Currently (2024), with the support of a 2023 CNZ Arts Grant, Desiree is  working on A Good Winter a stage adaptation of Gigi Fenster's novel of the same title (winner of the Michael Gifkins Prize with Text Publishing and shortlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction). About the play: When Olga's neighbour Lara becomes a grandmother, Olga is there to help. After all, it's a big imposition on Lara, looking after her daughter and the baby. But smouldering beneath Olga's generous support is a deep need to be the centre of Lara's attention and affection — a need that soon becomes a consuming obsession. A Good Winter is an enthralling psychological journey through the complex landscape of a troubled mind.  (Represented by Playmarket NZ).

Desiree's new original play Get The Gett, which follows the journey of a Kiwi Jewish mother to be granted a Jewish divorce in New Zealand, has been selected for a part-reading/workshop with AJT (Alliance for Jewish Theatre) Play Maker's Lab, USA (international), 2024.

Read more:

• Desiree's website
• About Nuclear Family
• Gekidan Mingei: Caging Skies