Letters: Local theatre performance needs local support

Gisborne's War Memorial Theatre will host Musical Theatre Gisborne’s staging of Les Misérables in November. Photo / Gisborne Herald

Staging any musical is a big undertaking and Musical Theatre Gisborne’s staging of Les Misérables this November is a monumental task.

There is a cast of 48 who have already been fully involved in three rehearsals a week for the past couple of months under the vocal direction of Elizabeth Raines and the stage direction of Waikato-based John Drummond, who is currently travelling to Gisborne every weekend.

On top of the on-stage cast, there will be another 80 to 100 helpers providing backstage and front-of-house support in the lead-up and during the performances.

The first container with wardrobe and props for the show has arrived and been unpacked.

There are well over 200 costumes to fit the cast into, another monumental task being led by Jean McIntosh and her team of helpers.

The set, the largest ever to go into Gisborne’s War Memorial Theatre, will arrive in another two 40-foot containers and take a team of 15-20 two long days to assemble under stage manager Tim McAneney’s team, with assistance even coming from out of town to help.

This monumental production comes with monumental costs. Musical Theatre Gisborne is very grateful to early sponsors and funders who have come on board, but to ensure that shows of this magnitude can continue to be staged in Gisborne, the public needs to support the show by purchasing tickets. Discounted earlybird tickets are available until 5pm Friday September 19.

I may be slightly biased, but this will be one of the greatest shows to ever be staged in Gisborne. Certainly, what I have already seen in rehearsals is right up there with anything you would travel out of town to see. Please support local theatre and the many people involved in bringing Les Misérables to life by purchasing tickets to the show.

Les Misérables is being staged at Gisborne’s War Memorial Theatre from November 7-15. Tickets are available from the Gisborne isite or online through ticketek.co.nz.

Scott McSloy (Production Manager – Les Misérables)

Gisborne