Teens tackle challenging roles in play

Two North Shore teenagers are tackling the stage adaptation of an infamous New Zealand murder case.

Daughters of Heaven is an adaptation of the Hulme-Parker murder written by Michelanne Forster.

The play features Milford’s Millie Ketchley, 16, and Northcote’s Miriana McGechie, 15, as Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme.

It will be the first time the teens have taken on a leading role in theatre.

Director Michelle Atkinson says she was not deterred by the girls inexperience, as she has been their drama teacher for many years.

‘‘It was their enthusiasm and commitment to the play that made me decide I definitely wanted to direct it.

‘‘I knew they would be compelling,’’ Atkinson says.

Actress Miriana says the most challenging part was keeping on top of Hulme’s changing personalities.

‘‘She can turn from serious to manipulative to uncontrollable in an instant,’’ Miriana says.

‘‘But that was kind of the fun part. We were trying anything and everything with scenes, to see what worked best.’’

For the two lead actresses juggling NCEAs at the same time, it has been a tough schedule.

But Miriana says that the ‘‘reward is sweet’’.

The stage play incorporates actual court records and verbatim readings of Parker’s diary entries to reveal the obsessive and fantastical friendship between the two girls, which led to murder.

The events were popularised by Peter Jackson’s film Heavenly Creatures in 1994.

Daughters of Heaven runs May 31 until June 4. Performances start at 7.30pm at The Rose Centre, School Rd, Belmont.

Tickets available at shoresidetheatre.com.

From left, Daughters of Heaven stars Millie Ketchley as Pauline Parker and Miriana McGechie as Juliet Hulme.