Artistic Director, Film Maker, Choreographer, Producer, Performer, Costumiere.
Multi media artist
Morag Brownlie is an artist of many mediums. According to reviews - 'a visionary auteur' with 'an extraordinary vision, both celebratory and profound'. She is managing director of Kiss the Ground Ltd, Luminous films and formally Magnolia Productions.
Morag writes, directs, choreographs, photographs and performs.
Morag has worked in film, contemporary dance, theater, costume, wearable art, visuals and special events. She was nominated for the Nokia NZ film awards for her short film ‘Mes Mer’... for best contribution to short film as Director. This film made A-list international film festivals and toured Europe for 10 years.
In 2021 she made a short film Perfect Storm which premiered at A-list fim festival Warsaw Poland and Thessaloniki short film festival Greece. It has won numerous awards in many categories and played at over 40 International film festivals . A gallery exhibition of photos and the film itself showed at REI gallery Christchurch.
Large Scale Special Events
“Morag Brownlie is one of N.Z’s most innovative and expressive creatives. She has propelled her imaginative spirit and choreographic skills into the creation of high octane exhilarating experiences for the enjoyment by a wide range of enthusiastically appreciative audiences, over many years.” Dianne Bloomfield
Brownlie was a major contributor to the World of Wearable Art for well over a decade, as choreographer, artistic director, visuals creator, performer and director. She has created many performance experiences - from intimate duets at weddings to large entertainment concepts for the likes of Team N.Z - Designing 2 x Americas Cup Balls and Sky City’s - 5x New Year’s Eve extravaganzas.
Birds of Paradise
On leaving Wearable Art Morag created a romantic , comedic ,uniquely charming cabaret - 'Birds of Paradise '. . David Farrier( T.V 3) tweeted “Birds of Paradise is amazing, I think I’m in heaven”
“Bird-watching is boring....Yeah right. Birds of Paradise is terrifically clever, wonderfully funny, and quite seriously, better than its own blurb. It really is brilliant, Erotic without being rude, beautiful, touching, captivating and hilarious fun.” Theaterview
http://www.birdsofparadise.co.nz/
Copy and paste these review links
https://www.theatreview.org.nz/production/birds-of-paradise/#an-inspiring-mindful-work-of-international-class
https://www.theatreview.org.nz/production/birds-of-paradise-highlights/#terrifically-clever-wonderfully-funny
The birds have played at The Leigh Sawmill, Sky City, N.Z Fashion Week, Auckland Museum, Hamilton Garden festival, The NZ International Comedy festival, Ascension Vineyard and many more.
http://birdsofparadise-news.blogspot.co.nz/?spref=fb .
Two Bespoke Birds of Paradise shows. A glamorous sexy catwalk showcase of jewellery, by KAGI at NZ Fashion week. This unique catwalk show was proclaimed one of the top 5 shows for 2012.Following this brilliant catwalk show, was a hilarious and erotic performance at the Auckland Museums 'LATE' series. Set in the dramatic Grand Foyer, the show was a huge hit with the audience, and was part of an evening examining the theme of 'LUST'.
Cultural Immersion
Morag has always been interested in indigenous culture. She spent a year at 'Puawai ' Polynesian performing arts trust.
She was a long term member of Sylvia Forbes Quantum Leap Dance theater company in Christchurch.
After graduating from The Performing Art School in Auckland ( now UNITEC ) Morag studied African dance and drumming in Tanzania.
She toured with 'The Bagamoyo players' national theater company, performing community theater about AIDS. Upon returning to New Zealand her African experience inspired a sell-out full-length multimedia dance-theater work ‘The Passage’.
Morag filled The Watershed Theater with sand, an overflowing audience and a massive cast ( which included babies and animals.)Live camera feeds and hidden cameras played real time and mixed visuals that at the time were new and experimental. Mike Hodgson of Projector mix was at the visuals helm.
"Brownlie shares an extraordinary vision – both celebratory and profound" NZ Herald on ' The Passage'