Get ready for Kings of the Gym

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He held auditions for Stars In Their Eyes earlier this year then co-produced a Let’s Go Back To the ‘80s dress up night. James Packman is now performing in Unity Theatre’s The Shadow Box. The show had barely begun when Packman planned his next theatrical event — to direct a production of Dave Armstrong’s comedy Kings of the Gym.

Packman will hold auditions next month for the four-person play in which politically correct principal Viv Cleaver is intent on transforming low-decile Hautapu High School.

The thorn in her side though is the PE department.

PE teacher Laurie Connor is unfit and spends his days in the gym watching TV and gambling with his talented yet unambitious sidekick Pat Kennedy. Then student-teacher Annie Tupua arrives. The star netballer and born-again Christian could be the game-changer that Viv needs. Sparks fly as players battle for each other’s souls in this comedy set in that most romantic of places — a school gym.

PE teacher Laurie is in his 40s or 50s.

In his late 20s, Pat is a PE teacher in Laurie’s department. He is good natured and reasonably fit.

School principal Viv could be in her 50s. She is liberal, but efficient, and wants to clean up the lazy PE department.

Annie is Maori and in her early 20s. A student teacher in the PE department she is a very fit, born-again christian.

The characters are fairly stereotypical, says Packman, but he likes that they are “people we know”.

“The PE teacher is happy doing what he is doing but the principal wants him out. His sidekick is a deadbeat too but a fit young man. The new teacher is young, healthy and positive and wants to motivate the students. She’s a born again Christian and the two male teachers don’t respond well to that. She’s got a dark secret, though.”

Auditions for Kings of the Gym will be held at Unity Theatre, Ormond Road, on September 2, 2pm-5pm. To register for an audition, complete the online audition form tinyurl.com/auditions-KofG. The theatre will get in touch with you to confirm audition times. To see a script contact Heather McIntyre at 027 6881337 or email heatherlmc21@gmail.com