Hurst was reading the part of Arthur, in the play In Other Words, who learns he has dementia. It follows Arthur and his wife Jane’s journey as they struggle with his failing mind and memory.
It hit close to home for Hurst (67) and Ward-Lealand (62), who plays Jane, as like their two characters they, too, met and fell in love in their 20s and have been together ever since.
"I think the fact that we've been together over 40 years, it means that in the play, these characters, who are obviously in a long-term relationship, we're able to bring the patterns of and the habits that couples develop over a long time to these characters very, very easily. And I think it has a ring of authenticity about it."
The couple have had diverse careers as actors in individual productions and have performed in about 100 theatre shows, 30 of them together but never by themselves without supporting cast.
"The fewer people that are in the cast, there's always more responsibility. But having said that, we have a great deal of trust in each other as performers. So I think if anything went awry, we'd fix it pretty quickly in the moment.
"You know, that's one of the thrills about being in live theatre, you know."
Their ability to articulate where they need to improve something means they will be able to tackle technical and creative aspects of the play as they go.
"Because we both respect each other, we're kind of each other's best critics. We're both brought up in that sort of way of theatre-making where everything that you do is to make the play the best experience for the audience, so you're serving that greater good, if you like. Ego shouldn't come into it."
"I thought it’s perfect. I thought it would really be an excellent piece to do, one of those ones that really reflects the community that you live in. And the opportunity to do our first two-hander, of course, was something we didn't want to turn down as well," Ward-Lealand says.
"It's really lovely to be touring the country with your husband and doing a play."
Working together has never been a problem for the couple — in 2005, they played a couple whose marriage was breaking down in Edward Albee's play The Goat — which Ward-Lealand puts down to them having respect for each other’s work and being trained in a similar way.
"So in a way, the play (In Other Words) somewhat directed itself with the three of us (Ward-Lealand, Hurst and co-director and producer Callum Brodie). And it just means we can problem-solve very quickly because we have a sort of shorthand."
The show was written by UK playwright Matthew Seager, who was inspired to write it by his time running sensory therapy workshops in dementia care homes, where he realised the important role of music in their care. When he put Frank Sinatra on people started singing the words — even those who had stopped speaking.
So in the play the music of Sinatra is used to bring Arthur and Jane back together, even when she feels like he is a million miles away and hardly recognises her.
"It's the music that they both love that brings them back together."
Tackling a play which can generate such emotional responses, like with Hurst, means it does stimulate conversations whether or not a person is directly affected by the condition or not.
"I have to say I don't think there is a person I've met who hasn't had ... a connection to someone, a loved one or a friend of a friend or someone with dementia, because it's incredibly prevalent."
Ward-Lealand also hopes the play sheds light on the unseen work that goes on to support people with dementia.
"But for the people who haven't got to that stage and are dealing with it at home, it's a lot. You know, it's true mahi aroha, you know, love work. And I think the caregivers in particular feel very seen in this production."
As a result, she has received more feedback than she usually gets after a show.
"People emailing me or people responding on Facebook and in person telling us their stories. There's theatre at its best, able to hold a mirror up to nature."
It has been a really positive experience for the pair. Ward-Lealand feels it has the power to make people who have no experience with it feel differently, not only for the Arthurs of the world but the caregivers as well.
"Hearing the audience actually responding while we're doing the show, it's really great. They're seeing their personal experiences reflected back at them from us, and that is our job, of course, to do that, and I think what comes up is empathy, and that's a wonderful thing to have. That's something we sorely need in this world at the moment."
"I found the response to this play really humbling, and it feels like a really good thing to be doing it. I feel empathy and sympathy."
She is looking forward to coming back to Dunedin and performing in the Mayfair Theatre — the last time she performed in the venue was 1989 with The Front Lawn.
"I have very, very happy memories of that. So looking forward to being in that particular theatre."
It will also be a rare chance for the two actors, who usually tour on their own, to get to visit friends and do things together off stage.
"I’m very much looking forward to that experience."
"I've got quite a few strings to my bow, so I'm either preparing something to emcee or to speak at or to teach or to intimacy co-ordinate. But yes, the main focus is getting this show up and on, and I'm juggling the others around it. That's the story of my life."
While Ward-Lealand never expected to be doing this play — the first time she read it years ago she did not think she would be suitable for it — after being proved wrong with a successful sold-out season in Auckland and then a tour south she still wants to take it further.
"I want to take this as far as we can. There will be some places in New Zealand that won't have had it yet, and I hope we can go to all the regions, and, if possible, Australia. It's a really important story to be told, and I think wherever you go in the world, you're going to have people who can relate to it."
TO SEE:
In Other Words, Dunedin Festival of Arts, March 27 and 28 7pm; Wānaka Festival of Colour, March 30, 1pm.
