Petera in encore performance

The man can be taken out of the theatre but can the theatre be taken out of the man?
When it comes to Petera Hudson, who this Saturday returns to the Wanganui stage after a 20-year absence, the answer is a definite NO.
The former Wanganui Boys' College teacher and Tech Old Boys Rugby player, aptly has the part of a keen All Black supporter in Repertory Theatre's Shop Til You Drop.
His character goes to Sydney with a mate for the Bledisloe Cup final, and the two end up in what could be termed a scrum of a different kind - an accommodation crisis involving two female shop-alcoholics, a crusty professor and his hen-pecked wife.
"The play is hilarious ? a real comedy of errors. It is laughing with society at the nation's obsession with rugby and the All Blacks, and the obsessiveness of retail therapy. It's a show anyone who likes a good comedy and sports minded people will really enjoy," Mr Hudson said.
Shop Til You Drop will be his first Repertory production and only his second straight acting role in Wanganui, although he performed at the former Four Seasons Theatre ? but mainly in musicals.
"Four Seasons Theatre may no longer physically exist, but I have very vivid memories of it and directors Hazel Menehira and David Smiles."
Although Mr Hudson, who is from the Bay of Plenty, only arrived in Wanganui in 1981 and left in 1984, in that time he was in a number of productions. They included Salad Days, The Black and White Minstrel Show and Roger Hall's Hot Water at Four Seasons, and he was the Pirate King in Amdram's production of the Pirates of Penzance.
"The Pirate King was my first big break and I owe it to the late Ken Pearson. He was asked to do the role but suggested that I do it."
As to how he became interested in theatre, Mr Hudson said it was because his girlfriend, Marie Louise Pelzers (whom he later married), was very involved with it.
Nor did his interest in sport suffer because of theatre. As well as playing rugby he was an active member of cricket and squash teams.
In 1984 Mr Hudson and his wife travelled overseas where he taught and administrated in International Schools around the world, as well as keeping up an interest in theatre and sport, particularly rugby.
Mr Hudsonis last posting overseas was as principal of the International School of Singapore. He also spent 12 months in San Diego completing his MA in Educational Administration.
On his return to New Zealand in 1993 the couple settled in Auckland and set up an educational advisory service providing professional development for teachers in information and communication technologies.
In January, with their two children, Ria and Ken, they moved back to Wanganui for family reasons. Here Mr Hudson has established and operates Lend-a-Hand, providing lawn mowing, car grooming, domestic and commercial cleaning services and also a Mr HandyMan service.
However he still has an interest in education and is on Cullinane College's board of trustees.
He is also the chairperson of the Whanau Support group of Cullinane College's Kapa Haka and is a member of Te Mata-Pihi, Wanganui's adult Kapa Haka - which is led by Morvin and Kura Simon.
Shop Til You Drop's cast also includes Danny Mallinder, David Whiteside, Anna Owen, Naomi Humphreys, Nadine Rayner and Michael Street. The director is Joan Street.
Shop Til You Drop, which was written by Alison Quigan and Ross Gumbley, runs from October 30 to November 6. There will be a matinee on October 31.
Tickets can be bought at the Royal Wanganui Opera House or Repertory at the door.