Nelson theatre scene bigger than ever
Every week, Nelson Youth Theatre director Richard Carruthers gets two or three queries from parents asking how their child can get involved in his shows.
“There’s a lot of interest,” Carruthers said. “Children have seen the shows and want to be involved.”
This week, the curtain will be raised on two Nelson Youth Theatre musical productions at the Theatre Royal Nelson: The Lion King, which starts on Sunday, and Queen-inspired We Will Rock You, which opens today.
Not long ago, two such productions would have involved about 100 children between them, Carruthers said.
However, with a cast of 150 in the Lion King, and 20 in We Will Rock You, the current shows were among the largest yet.
While the sheer numbers involved in the productions presented challenges, veteran director Carruthers was taking it all in his stride, and drawing on a “good team of people”.
A revolving team of volunteers pitched in with directing, costumes, set building and co-ordinating the large casts at showtime.
While the ever-popular Lion King was almost sold out for opening night, We Will Rock You, a jukebox musical written by Ben Elton, was selling more slowly.
However, Carruthers expected the show, which was popular overseas but not so well known on New Zealand shores, would gather momentum as people went to see it. With a live band bringing the show to life, We Will Rock You was “very much like a rock concert”.
The musicians had worked closely with the cast, which was a novelty for everyone involved, Carruthers said. “The musicians are loving the process: seeing the kids singing, especially now they’re rehearsing in the theatre with lights flashing.”
The large numbers of children wanting to play a part in the musical shows highlighted a healthy local theatre scene, Carruthers said. While some children do one production and don’t return, others are instantly hooked.
“For some that’s it, they’ve found their niche,” Carruthers said. “Theatre becomes their life; they’ll help out on shows they’re not in, that’s their social life.”
We Will Rock You will run 7pm daily, from today until April 19. The Lion King will show 2pm daily, and 6pm on Saturday, from April 14-20. You can book at the box office, or online at patronbase.com/_TheatreRoyalNelson/Productions.