There’s no business like show business, they say, which makes the Hurunui Theatre Group a great choice for our Behind the Business series this month ahead of their upcoming production A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
Dave Nichols is one of the founding members of the group, which was formed when members of the Glenmark Lions Club came together one wintry night in Hurunui 30 years ago to consider ways to elevate the district’s mood.
“It was a particularly cold winter,” says Dave, “and we wanted to lift people’s spirits.”
The idea of a musical play hit the right note from the start. It had been a hard season for the district’s farmers, so the decision was made that all offerings would rotate between “musical comedy and Western musical comedy”. Over the years, productions have included favourites such as Little Shop of Horrors, Calamity Jane, and Dave’s personal favourite, Dracula Spectacula.
Of the original group, only Dave remains but the group has consistently kept up core numbers of between 20 and 25 people in the cast, plus the valuable five to six working behind the scenes to make things happen. Hurunui District Council is also well represented, with three talented council officers filling roles.
Dave explains that each production requires capital investment of $3,000 to $4,000 to obtain the licence from the production agent.
“Because it’s a grassroots group, we never quite know if we will have enough people to put on a show and cover all the vocal ranges, but it always comes together in the end.”
Performers put aside three evenings a week during the four months of rehearsals, an obligation, says Dave, “similar to belonging to a sports club”. The group is grateful for the dedication of several stalwarts who have donated their time year after year — “people like Anna McBreen, Lindsay and Gary Millar, patron John McCaskey, and maestros Marilyn Johnson and Anthony Kingson”.
Dave takes the lead in this year’s production, which he describes as packed with slapstick humour, mistaken identities, and “general melee and chaos”. The farce is set in ancient Rome and follows the hilarious adversities of a slave attempting to gain his freedom by helping his master win his love.
“It’s a great way to get a lift in late winter and we’re unique from other theatre groups in that we still offer a cuppa and a biscuit,” says Dave.
- Show performances are on Thursday 24 August, Friday 25 August, Saturday 26 August, Thursday 31 August, Friday 1 September and Saturday 2 September all at 7.30pm, plus a matinee on 26 August at 2pm. All performances are in the Waipara Memorial Hall. Tickets available at trybooking.com For enquiries, ring 0275 669940.
