Senior students at John Paul College going cuckoo for latest production

Josh McGrath and Ashleigh Hart play Randle McMurphy and Nurse Ratched in the play. Photo/Zizi Sparks

While some students are enjoying a break from schoolwork these holidays, a group of 14 John Paul College students are working hard to pull together a production.

The group of senior students are putting on two performances of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest on August 3 and 4.

The production is part of NCEA assessments for Year 12 and 13 students at the school and head of drama Gabrielle Thurston is directing it.

"They are a very talented group and they need to be extended," Thurston said.

"Some of them are going to join the profession so they need to be working with mature scripts and have experience with challenging material."

Thurston encouraged people to attend the performance because the play was a classic and the students' acting would be good.

"It's an incredible play and it's going to challenge them."

Josh McGrath, 18, plays main character Randle McMurphy. He said the play was coming together and encouraged people to attend the show.

"It's not every day you get to watch such a small group of students do a proper production at this level."

McGrath said his character was vastly different from his personality so getting into character took time.

"It's about going into who am I as a character, what do I want. All of the things beyond the lines, finding yourself in the character and making that character more than it is on the page."

Ashleigh Hart, 17, plays Nurse Ratched and she also said the character was vastly different from her.

"Becoming the character is difficult. Mine is so evil and horrible."

Hart said the play dealt with themes which still exist in the present, such as manipulation.

The details
What: Senior drama students at John Paul College's production of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest
Where: Casa Blanca Theatre
When: August 3, 7.30pm and August 4, 2pm.
Cost: Adults $15, students $8, recommended for ages 13 and up. Tickets from the John Paul College office
Who: Written by Dale Wasserman, directed by Gabrielle Thurston