Gisborne production of Badjelly the Witch set to charm audiences

Director Jill White is working with a talented cast to bring Badjelly The Witch to the stage at Unity Theatre in March.

Director Jill White can’t wait to share the performances of her cast in Gisborne Unity Theatre’s production of Badjelly the Witch next month.

“I wasn’t expecting to cast so many young people but I was impressed by the number who turned out to audition and the talent on display,” White said.

She has doubled up on casting the lead roles of Tim and Rose.

Joel Sutherland and Charlie Jones will play the siblings for half of the shows and Jaxon Siata and Shelby Akbar will perform the roles in the other half.

Rachel Crawford is Badjelly and Ben Sutherland is giant Dulboot.

“Ben brings a great dozy quality to the role of Dulboot and Hendrix Boyce is bringing so much humour to his roll of Mudwiggle the worm. All of the young actors are doing a great job.

With three rehearsals a week over a six-week period, White said she was happy with their progress and expected to run the play without scripts for the first time this week.

“Another thing that surprised me was the quality of the singing. There’s quite a lot of songs in the play and while I cast the play based on the quality of the acting, I was very happy to hear they can also sing so well.”

Costume designer Julie McPhail has had her work cut out with costumes needed for a tree goblin, mouse, apple tree and grasshopper, but White said she was rising to the challenge.

“Julie is doing a great job with the costumes and is trying to re-use and repurpose old costumes. She’s very inventive.”

Badjelly The Witch should appeal to all ages and will be nostalgic for those who read or listened to the Spike Milligan story as children.

White is also happy to be putting on a play featuring so many younger actors.

“It’s very funny and light and there is a bit of audience participation, too.”

Badjelly The Witch, March 14-22.

Unity Theatre, 209 Ormond Rd.

Tickets at eventfinda and Gisborne i-Site.