Island Bay 12-15 Year Olds Rule NZ Fringe Festival

Island Bay 12-15 Year Olds Rule NZ Fringe Festival

How to _____ Us
By Wellington Young Actors, Directed by Deborah Rea
6pm, 19-21st March, Gryphon Theatre
Tickets $14/$12/$10 www.fringe.co.nz
@wgtnyoungactors

Wellington Young Actors, the capital’s youngest theatre company, is to perform Gryphon Theatre Their original performance How to ____ Us at the NZ Fringe Festival.

Wellington Young Actors, who train in theatre at Island Bay Community Centre, are no strangers to the NZ Fringe Festival having created shows annually since 2015 when they were awarded Best Newcomer. However, this year, their youngest members aged 12-15 years olds will be having their first venture into the Fringe. The teenagers have previously performed Falling by Angie Farrow as well as Alice in Wonderland at the Newtown Community Centre in 2017. The NZ Fringe Festival will be their first major performance together.

For the NZ Fringe Festival the junior members of Wellington Young Actors have created How to _____ Us- a comedic and touching attempt to bridge the communication gap between adults and teens. How to _____ Us is an experimental theatre show for which the company took inspiration from UK theatre company Forced Entertainment.

Through their show, Wellington Young Actors hope that adults will learn the true thoughts and feelings inside the wild head of a teenager, parents will discover how their actions have consequences on the young mind, and how they can truly help a teenager in distress.

The students have not only been training in acting but all elements of theatre making including marketing, design, fundraising and management. This provides them with the skills and knowledge to run a theatre company, or to put on one of their own shows in the future.

The youth company have been trained by local actor/director, Deborah Rea. Rea is a regular on the Wellington professional stage and has appeared on screen; including Shortland Street and indie feature film Jake.

“New Zealand’s industry is small. Being able to create and produce your own work is an absolute must-have skill to ensure any kiwi actor’s survival. The work barely ever comes to you so you must bring the work yourself. At 12-15 years old, these actors have a secure future, not only in being able to stage their own work but also in being able to find employment in design, fundraising, marketing and production. Hopefully one day they’ll also hire me.” - Deborah Rea

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