The Lee brothers: Song of sibling rivalry

Getting up on stage and singing your heart out can be daunting but not for 16-year-old Olie Lee.
The Year 12 student is playing the lead male role in Aquinas College's school production, Cinderella Enchanted, and has no problems being in the spotlight. "I like being the centre of attention and being the one in the spotlight, so to speak. That's what I love about it."
With talent, confidence and a supportive family, Olie has the potential to be a true star, however the problem is Olie is standing in his siblings' shadows.
When his eldest brother, Jaime, 21, attended Aquinas College, he was the lead in the school production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Middle sibling Sam, 19, was Jaime's understudy.
The next year, Sam played the lead in the school's Pirates of Penzance production.
This year, Olie is playing the lead and wants to be recognised on his own merits and talents.
"There was and is a lot of pressure, heaps more [than Sam] because I didn't want to let the family down. [Jaime and Sam] always teased me about it ... and I was relieved and also really proud [when picked as the lead]."
The brothers got involved in musical theatre when they were living in Napier. Jaime was a member of the Napier Operatics Society and was involved in music throughout his school years, playing guitar and singing. Sam joined the choir and learned the bass guitar. Olie also learned guitar.
And while there's a healthy sibling rivalry between them, the trio are extremely supportive of each other and their abilities. "[Olie] says there is pressure on him to succeed but we only joke around with him and we know he deserves to be there," Jaime said.
While music is an important part of the boy's lives, it isn't the only thing they're passionate about. Jaime, Sam and Olie have also been encouraged to participate in sport and all three were members of the school's First XV rugby team.
Jaime said: "In Joseph, a lot of the cast were also members of the rugby team and [performing arts] was never perceived to be the [nerdy] thing to do."
Olie has yet to complete his final senior years at Aquinas College but said he would like to continue performing. Jaime and Sam are in the early stages of forming a band, in Wellington, where they both live.
Cinderella Enchanted is on at Baycourt Theatre from May 25-28.