Book excerpt: One of the most important and influential figures in the history of New Zealand theater, Nola Millar was an indefatigable director and teacher and the founder of Toi Whakaari, New Zealand's premier drama school. This biography explores the full story of her career, her important work as reference librarian at the Turnbull library, and the social contexts in which she worked, providing great insight into the history of theatre in New Zealand.