Invercargill Musical Theatre Ready to Rock the Stage
Invercargill Musical Theatre are counting down the days until the SBS Bank Season of ‘We Will Rock You’ hits the stage on Friday July 8th.
Best described as what ‘Mamma Mia’ is to ABBA, ‘We Will Rock You’ is to Queen, the cast includes Ashleigh Reid, Ben Hayward (Dunedin), Michelle Lange, Ruth McSoriley, Craig Waddell, Jason Schmidt and Travis Luke.
Regular seasoned performer Nathan Hughes is missing from the stage this time. After so many performances over the last 20 years that he’s lost count, Nathan has taken a back seat (literally), to be on the executive committee instead.
Admitting a huge dose of FOMO, Hughes is the new principal at St John’s Girls’ School this year and didn’t think he would have the time to commit to being on the stage.
“It has made me realise where my heart lies,” he said.
Nathan has had a huge insight into what goes on behind the scenes in staging a show like this, and described it as one of those “gigantic beasts” that has to be pulled together.
When four 40-foot shipping containers arrive in town with all of the stage props and costumes, and 25 people spend the best part of two days putting it all together, “it’s all very real,” he said.
Then chaos ensues while the cast and crew familiarise themselves with all of the different elements, which takes the show to the next level – in the build up to opening night.
“It falls apart for a minute – all of the components have to work together, that haven’t before.”
For the past three months the cast has been extremely vigilant about viruses, with full mask wearing at rehearsals and a limited life outside of home and the stage.
“People are cautious… and we’ve asked them to withdraw from their whole life because they are burning the candle at both ends. There is such an element of risk,” he said.
But the show will go on! The cast and crew are now working tirelessly within the walls of the Civic Theatre where ‘We Will Rock You’ all takes place, from July 8th-23rd.