Chitty debuts in Orewa
The world’s favourite enchanted car Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is flying into Orewa’s Centrestage Theatre.
The show’s magical debut will be the first ever New Zealand performance by an amateur theatre company, and will enjoy a run from October 28 to November 18.
Production manager and Centrestage Theatre Company president Debbie Hogan is ‘‘very excited’’ to have obtained the rights to the beloved musical - the only theatre company in greater Auckland to do so this season.
The cast of over 40 local actors range in age from 8 to 80 years old, and will be joined by a full crew and orchestra - all volunteers.
‘‘Every person that works on the show is a volunteer - we do this all for the love of theatre,’’ she said.
The show’s famous car was ‘‘built from scratch from the ground up’’, with help from the West End production’s original car designer James Williams, who lives on the Hibiscus Coast.
Williams gave the team ‘‘ideas, tips and hints’’ to help the car get off the ground and ‘fly’, Hogan said.
‘‘It was really good to be able to talk to him, he’s obviously still very passionate,’’ she said.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is Centrestage Theatre Company’s sixth show this year.
Visit centrestagetheatre.co.nz.