Young performers’ theatre win
Waikato children were the first to compete in the New Zealand Theatre Festival, and they won the top prize.
The national event was held annually, and this year 42 adult groups performed.
The Huntington Hounds of Riverlea group consisted of six adults and five kids.
‘‘This is not just kids doing a school play, this is a major theatre award so the adults were there to win, but we thought we might get some Cambridge kids involved,’’ said group director Robyn Chappell.
They entered under the umbrella of Riverlea Theatre with their Russian symbolist play and won Best Overall Production and Best Technical Production.
Their actor Jono Freebairn won the Distinctive Emerging Talent Award.
The play called An Incident was written in 1905, and was described by Chappell as ‘‘hardcore’’.
The children acted as starving peasants.
‘‘We had to teach the kids how to perform at a competitive adult level and they absolutely rocked it.
‘‘It was super impressive because we were up against adults throughout the country.’’
When asked if the children would be back to do to it again next year, screams of yes were bellowed out.
Chappell said they would need to come up with a play that hadn’t been done before and one that would suit the children, who wouldn’t be acting as children.
The annual competition had been running since 1933, and it was the first time Riverlea Theatre had won.
To organise the group, a post was made on a Cambridge Facebook page asking if any children would be interested.
‘‘But it’s a major event, nationals are either in Wellington or Invercargill so there’s travelling and a huge cost to parents,’’ she said.
Young participant Keeley Thomas was excited to perform at adult level.
‘‘I must say that when I first found out about it from one of my mum’s friends I was quite unexpecting, and then when I got through to the end and did the whole thing I’d never been more grateful in my whole life,’’ she said.
The other students that took part were Eden Chappell, Ishel Suter, Devon Briggs, Olivia McFetridge, and Lyra Slaughter.