As the year begins to wind down, Hagley Theatre Company reflects on its 2022. As far as Covid years go, this one almost resembled times of old with almost all of our planned seasons going ahead without interruption. Our vibrant Company members have delved deeply into a wide range of performing arts topics, an aspect of our programme that we are very proud of. Students have gained an important grounding in Brechtian methods, Stanislavski, Anne Bogart and Tina Landau's Viewpoints, the Suzuki Method of Actor Training, Laban, Keith Johnstone's improvisation and much more. They have shown up with courage and vulnerability to explore new ways of working and to expand their understanding and practice of the performing arts. Our most recent season, BYTES, featured an evening of original 52 second plays, all written by our students, under the tutelage of Brendon Bennetts. Imagination was at the forefront, shaped by craft. BYTES featured such gems as Matt Lang's Wheelie Woes, a play about the lives of wheelie bins, Oscar Kitt created Soap Shoes Man, a piece about a man with soap on his shoes. Other notable plays were Trench Warfare, Braedon Armstrong's piece about a child's view of war, Medium by Rylee Cleine, about an unconvincing fortune teller, Fastest Swimmer by Mickey Thwaites, about an unconventional swimming race, Trouble in the Old West by Des Jackson, about a bank robbery that leads to romance and Cross Country by Sam Bowden Cooke, about the trials of school PE. Brendon says "I was impressed with the inventiveness and variety of scenes that the students produced this year."
Despite a year packed full of creativity and insight, it's not over yet! HTC is excitedly preparing their final season of the year, SLAM! An eclectic evening of slam poetry, dance, scenes, film and more, coupled with delicious platters. Our $25 tickets go fast for these events, to book yours email Cameron Mattox (artistic director) on mx@staff.hagley.school.nz.
Along with the prep for SLAM!, the Company this week welcomes in potential members for the 2023 ensemble. We are interviewing possible candidates and have our group audition happening this Saturday. If you're reading this and would like to audition, please hop onto our website and fill in the form - www.hagleytheatreco.co.nz.
Speaking of auditioning, artistic director, Cameron Mattox, is proud to report that "Two of our wonderful students applied for UNITEC’s school of acting In August and have been successful with their audition. Olympia Hodgson and Hayley Lomas will be heading to Auckland in the new year to begin their professional actor training."
Whatever your plans are for next year, here's to an incredible 2023, full of following your vision!