Wartime play heads to old drill hall

Between the eightieth anniversary of the end of World War II and today’s geopolitical uncertainty, the time just seemed right for Wakefield Country Players to put Captain Corelli’s Mandolin on stage.

To add to the wartime theme, the performances will be held in the Spring Grove Drill Hall with a start date on Anzac Day.

Peter Verstappen is directing the complex play which has a substantial cast of 23 plus the production team behind the scenes to reproduce the Greek Island setting of War World 11, complete with pyrotechnics for the battle scenes.

The rights for the play were bought a few years ago, but Peter says the theatre group has been waiting for the right time to put it on the stage.

While it is the classic love story and set on a Greek Island, it also has the turmoil of the war as first the Italian army moves into the village and then the German army, with villagers caught in the crossfire.

“This story explores things around war and the destruction from war. With everything that is happening globally, a lot of New Zealanders are thinking we are moving back into a period of geopolitical uncertainty. I know it’s on people’s minds,” Peter says.

“We thought, here’s an opportunity for people to come along to see a play that speaks to all this and have a conversation afterwards about how it impacts on their own lives.

“It’s a reality in some parts of the world and may be a reality for some of us.

“I think if we pull it off, it will be very powerful. There are a lot of moving parts, but we have an excellent cast and behind them, a terrific production team,” Peter adds.

Running the play in the old drill hall that was built in 1900 fits the military theme and Peter says it provides a blank canvas to create a performance venue.

As the first show opens on Anzac Day, he hopes to work with the RSA to sell poppies on the day.

Like all the group’s plays, the audience can bring their own picnic to tables set up in the hall so they can dine while they enjoy the show.

Bookings can be made by emailing [email protected] or phoning 03 541 9046.