Footloose but this show's not for free

There's a certain insanity about those who spend the time, energy and money to make a school stage production, says Footloose director Chris Davidson.
"We don't do it for the money - we do it because we're mad I guess," he said.
 From a front-row seat at Napier's Municipal Theatre, where the Napier Girls' and Boys' high schools' production was to play tonight, Friday and Saturday night, Mr Davidson spoke to Hawke's Bay Today about the show and the state of the arts in general.
Although costly, there was nothing more rewarding for the students than a successful production. "A lot of kids will forget classes and teachers, but not a single one of them forgets being in a show," he said.
Some larger schools' production budgets reportedly have run up to $60,000 while others have forked out for professional directors to the tune of $10,000.
Mr Davidson said Napier did not have that luxury, but less funds did not mean less quality.
"We don't want to compromise and we don't accept compromise," he said.
"We push the kids hard but the results are there - if people say 'that was a good school production' we've failed, they should see it like any other show."
Footloose is an American show based on the hit 80s movie of the same name.
"We've moved it into today because the themes and the music are all pretty universal," Mr Davidson said.
"All the songs are the same so there's heaps of music people will recognise."
Performers and producers have stayed focused on making the best show they can and money has been a secondary factor, Mr Davidson said.
 "Our biggest expense is the theatre. We want the biggest theatre and our power cost will come in at around $2000," he said.
"We don't really worry about the bottom line. If we lose a bit of money on it we're okay."
There were plenty of ways to produce a top-shelf show without spending up on big ticket items.
In recent years multimedia had been used more prevalently as projecting backdrops onto a screen not only saved on building expensive sets but also allowed more flexibility.
"We borrow and steal a lot of stuff and in the end if you have top quality performers, a bit of lighting and a good band it comes out great," he said.
"The team is just so experienced. Our musical director Suzanne Purdy and choreographer Belinda Harvey have been doing this so long they're really settled. No one has to really consult with each other they just get on and do it.
"Basically I just bugger around and cash in on everyone else's glory."
Students in the show have been pushed to their limits by Mr Davidson, but he said they have relished the experience.
"I love working with the kids because they'll push it way past their limits and they really do nail it.
"They'll dance like there's no tomorrow every time, whereas a lot of adults dance as if they're getting a hip replacement."
The abundance of young talent never failed to surprise Mr Davidson, who has been running school productions for 20 years.
"Some of them do really come out of the woodwork," he said.
"Sometimes you get a really good one and you'll want just a bit more time with them, but then another one will come along."