Shrek show a chance for young actors to shine

JUNIOR SHOW: Ratbag Theatre, in conjunction with Rotorua Musical Theatre, will be looking to stage a Shrek Jnr show later this year. PHOTO/FILE

For local children keen to experience the world of theatre a Disney Junior Show could be just the ticket.

Ratbag Theatre, in conjunction with Rotorua Musical Theatre, is looking to stage a Shrek Jnr show, with performance dates in early September and audition dates to be confirmed for May.

Rotorua Musical Theatre president Natasha Benfell said it would be a wonderful show with great messages which were apt for youth.

But a huge amount of community support would be needed, she said.

"The beauty of this show is it is all the 10 to 18-year-old age group. If anyone managed to see the show in Tauranga I am sure they will attest to the amazing talent.

"We felt that with all the work put into our Ratbag programme last year we would like to continue to work with youth.

"We hope that this will filter down not only to stage performance but other roles within the theatre."

She said technical, wardrobe and stage design roles were all different facets that made up theatre.

"I developed the Ratbag - Rotorua Amateur Theatre Beginners Acting Group - with a fellow Rotorua Musical Theatre member, Gae Wheeler.

"We felt that there is a huge gap in our community for performing arts for youth and we decided to run a semester of classes."

She said the programme had been mainly to get involved with youth and test what the theatre could achieve.

"I was overwhelmed with the response. Gae and I worked hard with this programme and are very grateful for the support of Steve Holmes and the Rotorua Youth Centre who were able to provide us with a space.

"One of the most rewarding aspects of this for Gae and I was the amazing relationships made with the students and parents.

"Out of this we have decided that Rotorua Musical Theatre must continue to provide vehicles to showcase the wonderful talent this city has and also to make sure that we are fostering and developing our youth.

"We felt that the cast size for Shrek Jnr, the diverse roles and the really positive messages would make this a great first show.

"To the best of my knowledge this will be the first Disney Junior Show to be produced in Rotorua. There is so much to learn and so much fun to be had."