Vienna Seabright, 8, of Te Awamutu plays a woodland creature in her third show for Stories and More.
Vienna Seabright, 8, of Te Awamutu plays a woodland creature in her third show for Stories and More.
Waipā actors and support crew are to the fore in a forthcoming production of the CS Lewis' classic The Magician's Nephew, on stage for the term three school holidays this October.
It is directed by Cecilia Mooney and produced by Waikato children's theatre company Stories and More and will playat The Meteor in Hamilton.
The Magician's Nephew, adapted for the stage by Glyn Robbins, will take audiences back to where it all began. A prequel to The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, audiences will discover how Narnia came to be and how the White Witch seized control of the land — not to mention the origins of the infamous lamppost that would later guide Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy safely home.
Te Awamutu actor Phil Dalziel (Uncle Andrew) and Megan Goldsman of Cambridge (Polly) in rehearsal for 'The Magician's Nephew'.
Te Awamutu actors Vienna Seabright and Phil Dalziel both feature, Phil portraying the 'magician' Uncle Andrew and Vienna one of the woodland creatures — baby beaver.
The Magician's Nephew is Vienna's third show with the company and Phil's second. Both were also involved Stories and More's 2016 production of C.S. Lewis' The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.
"It's a lot of fun" says Vienna, 8. "I really enjoy being part of an all-ages show". Co-star Phil agrees — despite the fact that he is portraying the conniving and cowardly character Uncle Andrew.
"I remember reading the Narnia books as a kid" says Phil. "It's pretty great to be a part of the story I enjoyed as in adult life".
Greg McCallum reins in Strawberry, played by Cambridge's Nick Hall. Photo / Supplied
Cambridge local Megan Goldsman stars as one of the two protagonists who discovers Narnia with her neighbour Diggory (Eli Oliver).
"I'm really enjoying the show, and the camaraderie that has come with it," says Megan. "I feel like I'm reliving my own childhood memories and getting to bring to life one of the stories I grew up with."
Megan is joined by her mother Tessa who is helping out in the costume department for the show, making Megan's costume.
Tessa is not alone backstage — Cambridge resident Kodee Redpath is a member of the hair and make-up team.
Given the nature of the show and the fact that many of the characters are not 'human' Kodee has her work cut out for her helping to bring the iconic Aslan, along with other Narnian creatures to life.
One of these creatures is fellow Cambridge resident, actor Nick Hall, who is portraying Strawberry the horse.
"It's been a really fun experience, interesting in the sense that the role is presenting its own challenges, but fun," says Nick.
Recommended for ages six and up, The Magician's Nephew will be staged at The Meteor Theatre throughout the school holidays — October 5-13 — with selected daytime shows at 11am and evening shows at 7pm.
