Director and Massey artist in residence Vanessa Stacey and A scene from ‘The Tempest’
Summer Shakespeare ‘not to be missed’
Record crowds have attended the first Summer Shakespeare shows in The Square. Reviewers have also raved about The Tempest production, calling it “a theatrical experience not to be missed”. Director and Massey’s artist in residence Vanessa Stacey says the cast and crew are delighted with the reaction from the first shows. “I’m buzzing. The cast are glowing, they are just killing it.” More than 360 people attended the first show, with Saturday night “crazy with 450 people” and another 360 on Sunday.
Ms Stacey says the annual production has always had a loyal following but this time she wanted to engage with youth and “shake things up”. The show is in the style of a steampunk rock opera – and her ambition has paid off. She says while the reviews have been fantastic her favourite response was from a group of teenagers that told her the production was “choice and better than TV”. The new location in The Square – after ten years in the city’s Victoria Esplanade – also encouraged people who normally wouldn’t attend a Shakespeare play to come along, or stop and watch as they walked by.
Ms Stacey praised her talented cast and crew for their hard work and enthusiasm and thanked the community for its support. “It’s really lovely doing community theatre and doing it with people who love it. It’s been inspiring for me and reignited my passion.”
The final shows will be held on Friday and Saturday this week.
Last year’s Summer Shakespeare production of Much Ado About Nothing won four awards this month at the Globe Theatre Awards Night in Palmerston North including best production and best direction.