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Actors Take On Shortland Street


Media Release 6 October 2009

Intellectually Impaired Actors Take On Shortland Street

A group of intellectually impaired actors from Ranfurly Care Society have scripted, acted in and filmed their own thirty-minute take-off of their favourite TV programme Shortland Street. The fifteen actors that make up The Ranfurly Players Theatre Company will screen their own version of the local soap opera entitled ‘Ranfurly Hospital’ next week.

Ranfurly Players creative director Brett Ihaka says the process, which took six months, was challenging as the film was entirely improvised.

"Because these actors have difficulty remembering lines we tell them what the scene is about and then they make it up themselves with regards to the theme of each scene," explains Brett Ihaka. "Because they improvise the script this means anything can happen and often does. This meant we had to do a lot of shooting and editing to get the final film."

The actors were closely involved in each step of the film making process. Each actor had to choose their favourite character off Shortland Street then decide what they wanted their character to do.

"One actor wanted to run someone over, another wanted to have an affair and be boss of the hospital and someone else wanted to be a ‘limb specialist’. Needless to say the resulting film is hilarious with some interesting storylines worthy of any Shortland Street episode," says Ihaka.
Ihaka says The Ranfurly Players is the only theatre repertory of its kind in New Zealand showcasing the acting skills of those with intellectual impairments and disabilities. But it is not all about acting. While the actors bring to each film their own unique skills and talents, The Ranfurly Players also fosters a great spirit of independence.

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"These actors have never made a film before. During the process they learn confidence and after the screening they have to go and meet and greet the audience, which also teaches valuable social skills. Our goal is to provide an artistic and creative endeavour for all of those who may not have the opportunity."

Ihaka is better known as a screenwriter and film maker. His short film The Hill, was selected for the Berlin and Sundance Film Festivals and his short film The Platform, won the Silver Spike at the Valladolid Film Festival in Spain.

Ihaka initiated The Ranfurly Player in 2005 at the Ranfurly Care Society. Ihaka says he refused to compromise on the types of plays the actors tackled simply because of their disabilities. The Ranfurly Players have now successfully performed their distinctive versions of Macbeth, The Hounds of the Baskervilles, The Three Musketeers and Antony and Cleopatra. Ihaka says audience numbers grow each year with last year’s play selling out.

Along with their version of Shortland Street two other thirty minute film made by the actors will also screen – take offs of TV programme ‘The Twilight Zone’ and the movie ‘Jaws’. The Ranfurly Players will screen their films on the 15th and 16th October, 7pm at the Ranfurly Hall, 52-56 Ranfurly Road, Epsom. Cost is $5 and will be used as fundraising for The Ranfurly Care Society.

ENDS

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