Cheeky skits all part of service

Expertease Theatre made its official debut at the Hawke's Bay Tourism Awards.

A new Hawke's Bay performance group includes some well-known local actors and theatre directors.

Expertease Theatre, which made its official debut at the Hawke's Bay Tourism Awards last month, was started by Juliet and Peter Cottrell.

The group comprises the couple, actors Jane Sutherland, Jonathan Krebs and Amanda Jackson, and actor-directors Lisa-Jane Hay and Andy Brigden. Brigden is now in charge of Hawke's Bay Youth Theatre (HaBYT).

The group is offering its services as corporate entertainment for special events such as awards evenings and conferences, weddings and other functions, as MCs, workshop facilitators, and comedians, creating characters and fun and cheeky skits with the help of researching key themes and personalities beforehand.

It is planning a special evening for small charitable trusts to hold their Christmas parties.

Peter Cottrell trained as a professional actor and has 30 years' experience. He has worked as a secondary school drama and performance specialist, as a primary and media studies teacher and adult teacher.

He founded Expertease in Australia with writer and actor Leigh Walker.

Juliet Cottrell has spent more than 25 years as a writer, performer, director and drama teacher and is involved with the Keirunga Homestead Theatre and studying for a Masters of Applied Theatre (Hons).

For more info, visit www.expertease.co.nz