Hat tricks and hair slicks for Youth Theatre

Greased Lightnin’ will be striking the Theatre Royal these school holidays, and then it will be transformed into Wonderland.

Nelson Youth Theatre is performing classics Grease and Alice in Wonderland, starting this week, and both shows have new directors on board.

Amanda Lockhead will be directing Alice in Wonderland, her second show with youth theatre, and Lyn Rombouts is making her directorial debut with Grease – both under the mentorship of the company’s founder, Richard Carruthers.

“These are shows we have performed before, but they will both look a little different from the ‘Richard style’,” he says.

“Alice in Wonderland is bouncy and fun – kids will love it. There will be 80 to 90 kids on stage at any one time and people can expect to see lots of colourful features and costumes.”

The show runs for one hour, which is perfect for younger audiences.
Meanwhile, the “new look” Grease has a cast of 30 older teenagers, who are “raring” to go.

“Lyn has been part of youth theatre for years, but this is her first directing job and she’s put a different slant on it - but it has all the classic songs people know and love that will have them up dancing in the aisles.”

The last time the company performed Grease was in 2019 when they took the show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

This time they will be incorporating a classic 1950s convertible into the show, which runs for two hours (with an interval).

Richard says these are the first musicals they have performed since the new PA system has been installed at the theatre.

“It’s quite exciting to have a much more balanced sound throughout the auditorium, every seat gets perfect sound.”

Grease is taking the stage from 16 – 26 April, while Alice in Wonderland is on from 18 – 26 April. Tickets can be purchased from www.theatreroyal.co.nz