Theatre stands behind lead actor convicted of rape

CW: The following story includes details of rape.

A New Zealand theatre company is standing by its decision to cast an actor who was convicted of rape in 2021. The theatre said that a “safety plan” was given to the actor, including a rule that bars him from being alone with anyone. The theatre hopes that makes the cast feel safe.

Wellington Repertory Theatre’s production of "Murdered to Death," which premiered on Wednesday night and is scheduled for a ten-show run, features Harrison Stuart in the role of Inspector Pratt.

Formerly known as Harrison Nicol, Stuart changed his name, opting to use his surname, following his conviction for indecent assault and sexual violation by rape in 2021.

While the theatre believes it has taken sufficient measures to safeguard the cast, not all parties share this sentiment. Certain actors, along with the survivor of Stuart's assault, have voiced their concerns to local media, expressing distress over his return to the stage.

"Seeing Harrison's face displayed prominently on posters throughout the town and in sponsored social media advertisements has been deeply troubling for many of us in the theatre community," remarked one individual who chose to remain anonymous.

They believe Stuart should be blacklisted from the theatre and that a “safety plan” is not enough to ensure the protection of fellow actors.

In 2016, Jessica Te Wiata hosted drinks for friends and neighbors at her home in Island Bay. Her best friend at the time, Nicol​, was there.

At the end of the night, Te Wiata offered to let Nicol crash on her bed. They both fell asleep. But then she woke up to find her friend kissing her, touching her. He got up, put on a condom and raped her.

Te Wiata remembers sliding in and out of consciousness while it happened.

The first trial resulted in a hung jury, so it went on to a second. At the end of the second trial, in 2021, Nicol was found guilty of indecent assault and sexual violation by rape. Judge Butler sentenced him to more than four years in jail and refused to grant him name suppression.

Nicol appealed against the name suppression decision but has since abandoned his bid to keep his name secret.

At the time of Nicol’s sentencing, his lawyer, John Gwilliam,​ said his client denied raping Te Wiata but accepted that she believed that she had been raped.

“You were my friend, and I trusted you. I don’t believe in forgiveness, and I won’t forgive you,” Te Wiata said when she stood before him at his sentencing in Wellington District Court.

Now, just three years later, and after a presumably shortened jail sentence, Stuart(Nicol) is back on stage. Te Wiata said she’s “grateful” that fellow actors have raised concerns about Stuart’s return to the community, “especially given that, to this day, [Stuart] has not accepted responsibility for his actions.”

As for the theatre, they seem to believe that talent trumps past crimes. “We stand by our casting decision on the grounds that any risk is being actively managed and our belief that well-managed reintegration into community activities can ultimately play a constructive role in a situation like this,” said Paul Stone, theatre president.

Oliver Mander, who co-directs the production, said the theatre was aware of Stuart’s history during the audition process for Murdered to Death.

“We made it clear that if he were to be cast, we would be looking at implementing a safety plan, and that was around the duty of care that we owe to our cast, crew, and people involved in the production,” Mander said.

“We also made it clear that he had to play a role in communicating this to cast and crew.”

The safety plan prohibits Stuart from being left alone with cast or crew members and from drinking alcohol before or during cast or crew member interactions.