A Tapanui newcomer wants you to get on stage and Act Your Age.
Auditions for the West Otago Theatrical Society’s upcoming production, Act Your Age, are being held this Friday, 7-9pm, and Saturday, 10am-4pm.
Director Denise Dent said it was a musical farce and anyone who enjoyed comedy could get involved.
‘‘It’s a bit of fun and it involves people of all ages.
‘‘If they just want to be in the chorus . . . that’s absolutely fine.’’
While Ms Dent only recently got involved with the West Otago Theatrical Society after moving to Tapanui late last year, she was no stranger to the theatre world.
Originally from England, her passion for theatre started when she came to New Zealand in 2009 to be a teacher in North Canterbury.
‘‘I was looking for something to get involved in and I’m not a sporty person or anything like that.’’
The Hurunui Theatre Group was putting on a production and she decided to give it a try.
‘‘I just loved it. And then I started writing plays for the school and I did the school productions for two or three years.’’
When she left teaching and moved to Kaitangata, she continued writing and became involved with the South Otago Theatrical Society.
One of her plays about the Kaitangata mining disaster earned the runner-up award in a playwriting competition, she said.
‘‘The response to it was overwhelming. It was like the highlight of my life. I never thought it would have such an impact. There were grown men in tears.’’
She had a ‘‘fantastic five years’’ in Kaitangata before setting her sights on Tapanui.
‘‘I wanted to go somewhere where I didn’t have to use my car every day, where you had all the services in the township, and that’s what Tapanui’s got.’’
However, it was the community that really took her by surprise.
‘‘The people are just amazing — so friendly.’’
She felt very welcome, despite only having been there for a short time.
She was thankful to the West Otago Theatrical Society for giving her the opportunity to direct its next production, which she had performed in once before.
‘‘I know how much fun it is to do,’’ she said.
To book an audition, call 027 259-5785.
