Go, go, go greased lighting!

TECHNICAL WIZARDS: Cole Garrett, 15 (left), Morgan French-Stagg, 17, Aidan Hodgkinson, 17, and Josiah Reid, 14, the Wairarapa College student lighting crew. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A team of Wairarapa College students proved their "greased lighting" technician skills were more than a match for the onstage action at the latest college production.

The lighting and sound-desk crew comprises Year-12 students Morgan French-Stagg, 17, Aidan Hodgkinson, 17, and Year-11 student Cole Garrett, 15, who have worked the board together for two years, and Year-9 student Josiah Reid, 14, who was the newcomer to the bunch.

The crew have just finished lighting the stage and rolling out sound for the latest college production, Grease, and "have many more events to cover" over the remainder of the year, says teacher Suzanne Oliver.

"Aside from the production, they work on many other events including Stage Challenge, the Variety Show, senior and junior prizegivings, weekly assemblies and the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival, which involves working with different schools," Ms Oliver said.

Their work involves setting the lighting, rigging, pointing, patching and programming the lights for specific events, she said.

"In Grease this year the raised centre stage caused some challenges with getting the light to the right places."

The lighting and sound demanded the student team work through lunch breaks and after school, she said.

"Morgan became involved with the technical crew in Year 10 because he wanted to do something to help the school and he enjoys technology. He also sees it as a way to be creative," Ms Oliver said.

"Cole has been working the lighting for events since Year 7, including volunteering in the community.

"He says he would like to stay involved in the technical area of productions after he leaves school."