Little Theatre rapt to be staging Evita
Porirua Little Theatre has scored a coup in winning the right to stage Evita. Theatre president Sandy Brewer said there had been a limited release of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice show to amateur dramatic societies around the world this year.
The theatre will celebrate its 65th birthday this year in somewhat constrained circumstances, becauseof the uncertain future around the Marines Hall in Titahi Bay.
‘‘We were really delighted to be able to get the opportunity to put it on,’’ Brewer said. ‘‘It’s a great way to celebrate 65 years.’’
The Little Theatre will team with Auckland group Amici and the show will be performed around the country with local casts.
It will play at the Wellington Opera House in November.
Casting would begin shortly, she said.
There had already been a lot of interest in the major roles of Eva and Juan Peron, and narrator Che Guevara.
The theatre’s 65th year would be ‘‘massive’’, Brewer said.
In addition to Evita, the group will perform Voices From the Front as part of the Gallipoli commemorations, along with the Porirua Brass Band.
That will also be part of Porirua City’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Brewer said it had been difficult making the transition from the Titahi Bay Hall when the council decided not to strengthen it, but the pop-up theatre in the city centre was working out well.
Porirua Little Theatre had always been in its Titahi Bay home, and used it exclusively since the 1970s.
It had recently made a major investment in air conditioning, which it was still paying for.