Crime, ‘tough love’ and a helping hand

Showing the importance of positive role models for troubled youth is the aim of a new Nelson play.

Nelson playwright Justin Eade’s Home Invasion tells the story of Taylor, an entitled youth who breaks into exSAS soldier Peter Methune’s house, but happens to have picked on the wrong man.

Eade said the play looked at some of the drivers behind young people turning to crime.

‘‘It’s often parental absence or a bad male role model for young boys.’’

Eade’s recent plays include 67 Off 52, about cricket, and Maungapatu, about the notorious murders of five men on the Maungatapu track near Nelson in 1866.

He said he started writing the script for Home Invasion 12 years ago and had been adapting it since.

The idea for the play came from an article he read about troubled Auckland young people who were turning their lives around.

‘‘Essentially, it’s about mentorship and the importance of positive roles models for troubled youth. One day when you have something good to communicate to the world, it’s going to get out there.

‘‘I’m just hoping this one has a good positive message about tough love,’’ he said.

Eade said he had waited a long time for the opportunity to stage the full show. It had its debut performance at the Nelson Fringe Festival this month.

‘‘You have to be very patient and persistent.’’

He said the show was fortunate to have four talented actors – Nathan Green, from Motueka, younger actors Stuart Corkery and Lucy King, from Waimea College, and Miranda Warner, ‘‘who brings a real truth to the role of the SAS soldier’s wife’’.