Coming Shows

What has been written about our productions...

Cinderella - Dec 1998
By David Tinkham
The Nelson Mail - 5 Dec 1998
Reviewed by Mike Lynch

CINDERELLA KEEPS CHILDREN IN AWE
This lively and spirited pantomime provided a showcase for a large group of young and talented performers.
The production features a large group of young people, ably supported by some more experienced local performers.
Katie Holmes is lovely as Cinderella. She has a good singing voice and a charming stage presence. And David Pearson is well cast as the dashing Prince Charming.
Veteran Pantomime Dame Jim Wiseman is, as always, appropriately animated as one of the ugly sisters and young Andrew Matheson more than holds his own as the other.
Jane Winter and Joya Devine are wonderful as Bubble and Squeak. Their songs, their dancing and their gags all work brilliantly.
The rest of the principals all give strong supporting performances and the large chorus is worthy of high praise.
The test of a good pantomime for me is the reactions of the children (of all ages) and on that basis, the opening performance was a great success.
I sat where I could see the faces of the audience. I sometimes think that television and films may have numbed children's natural sense of wonder. No worries here. I saw in the faces of many of the young children sincere expressions of awe.
The performers get to hear the laughter and the applause. I just wish they could see the faces of the children.
All in all, a good reason for a family night out.

The Story of Robin Hood and His Merry Men! - Nov/Dec 1999
By David Tinkham
The Nelson Mail - 20 Nov 1999
Reviewed by Mike Lynch

ROBIN HOOD A GOOD FAMILY NIGHT OUT
This engaging and entertaining pantomime has a witty script, a cast of 60, several good songs and generous servings of humour.
Most of the young cast members have been involved in the Repertory Theatre School and there are several promising performers who seem to be benefiting from the learning opportunities.
Katherine Matheson is good in the role of Robin Hood, Susie Dunn (Maid Marian) rendered her songs well and was convincing in her role. Kerina Deas was memorable in the lesser role of Will Scarlet. Deanne Torr (Dame Goody) makes a great pantomime dame, and captured the largest portion of the ample laughter during the two hour show.
Chris Hyman (Friar Tuck) had fewer scenes to work with, but managed to provoke several of the loudest and most prolonged laughs.
Layton Matheson was suitably menacing as the evil Prince John and Richard Watkins presented an enduring image of the Sheriff of Nottingham.
The actors in the supporting roles all did well. The dancers were skilled and versatile, presenting several well choreographed numbers in many styles.
The sets and props were well made and the costumes were exceptional.
Credit is due to director, June Glover, for coordinating such a large cast.
A good night out for the whole family.

The King & I - Oct 2000

By Rogers & Hammerstein

Theatre News - Nov/Dec 2000
Reviewed by Dan Dungan

This is the most ambitious offering of the Nelson Theatre School to date. The school is young, this being its third production, and as the name implies, there is an accent on youth and nascent experience. With a cast of 80 and overall crew of 100 plus, many experienced live theatre for the first time.
Given these statistics, one would expect to have to make a good many concessions when undertaking criticism, but the show was surprisingly good. Careful attention to detail - Thai dress, manners, dance - lifted the production out of the school-musical class. A special note in the programme thanks one Bua especially for this authenticity; her supple Siamese hands not only directed but led by example as she was also Principal Dancer.
It is largely a female cast, of course, but the strong male roles must not be forgotten. Keith Aldren did a good job with the minor roles of captain and Sir Edward Ramsay and Michael Nicholson as Lun Tha showed surprising maturity. His voice is not yet as good as it is going to be, but with the help of a hidden mike (a device I have objected to in this theatre of excellent acoustics, but which seemed necessary for some immature voices) he evinced assurance and even power. The king was admirably portrayed by Damian Reid, who managed the mix of imperious hauteur and good-natured equivocation with aplomb.
Anna, played by Theatre School Head and Production Manager Jo Price, held the audience from the beginning with her strong will and feminine charm. Her set piece "Hello Young Lovers" was especially impressive.
It must have sorely tested the patience and pedagogical skills of the director to shepherd two crews of 20 children (used on alternate nights) and to form them into believable little Thais with stage discipline, but the job was done very well.
Carey Ure as Musical Director showed her strengths in all things musical. She is known for her innovations, especially on piano and composition, but here she also demonstrated her ability with a set score and direction of a ten-piece orchestra.
The Theatre School is definitely coming of age. The houses were not as good as they should have been but one might expect that word will get around and next time Nelson people will be more ready to support this young company. Perhaps in time a change of name would help dispel the suggestion of unripeness that need not be necessarily attached to amateur performance.