This week's Newsmaker is the Rotorua Musical Theatre's Natasha Benfell. It was reported this week the Musical Theatre and Rotorua Little Theatre were being encouraged to work together in order to receive funding for a new theatre building.
Tell us about yourself.
I'm a wearer of many hats as most women are. I am the president of the Rotorua Musical Theatre and a mum, the latter should never been underestimated, scoffed at or taken for granted. I have been involved with Rotorua Musical Theatre for a few years now. On stage, back stage as a director and now as president and current production manager for Mamma Mia! It was at a young age I had my first dance lesson at Irene Oliver's Dance studio and it wasn't long after we came to the conclusion I was probably better built for contact sport... that ignited my 27 year netball career, if you can call it that. I am so passionate about it that my husband has banned me watching it on TV.
What projects are on the cards for you and what have you been involved in?
I have been involved in many shows, "back to the 80s" where I can safely say I met the majority of the troublemakers, "Fang", "The Buddy Holly Story", "Bad Girls", "Stepping Out" and "Breaking Up is Hard To Do" - I would have loved to have been in "Cats" but decided to have my daughter Willow and spare the people of Rotorua my body in lycra. I am working on Mamma Mia! at the moment and it has been an amazing experience.
What do you love about your job?
It has to be hands down the people that involved with theatre. We all have our precious little quirks and stresses in life - but when we come together for a show, it's like a family or group of really close friends coming together again. I love that it is live theatre - it will never be done again with that same group of people at that time in that place so final night of a show is a really special thing for me.
What motivated you to get into the industry?
I have always had a fondness for the theatre and when I was at school we didn't have the great choices that our kids do now. So when I was persuaded into doing backing vocals for a show at the last minute I panicked the entire time - at the end of the season before I knew it I was auditioning for the next one.
What do you love about Rotorua?
I love that I am less than 10 minutes drive to my close family and friends - I love that Rotorua has some wonderful members of its community that really do want to make a difference, I know there are many working hard to support the people out there that really are doing it hard and need that compassion, respect and assurance. I hope others can get in behind them and sustain them. I'm kind of digging this free parking in town at the moment too.
Tell us three things about yourself most people wouldn't know.
I hate cooked egg whites on poached eggs and perform eyeball surgery on the yolks, it's disturbing.
My own singing is like a cat with its tail jammed in the door. My husband can sing higher than me and always insists on singing the female part in ANY duet I'm Kenny and he's Dolly.
I don't like shopping or waiting for things - I sent my husband to Wellington to buy a car that I saw once on Trade Me - I saw it, emailed them, then made my husband fly down to Wellington buy the car and drive it back the same day. Probably the most peaceful 24 hours of his life.