East Coast Theatre Bringing the Ōpōtiki Stages Back to Life

A new community theatre group hopes to bring more live performances to Ōpōtiki, starting with a Short Play Festival later this year.

East Coast Theatre Group is aiming to bring live theatre back to Ōpōtiki. 

Group Founder, performer and playwright Dan Gillgren said the journey will begin with a Short Play Festival.

"The vision for the Short Play Festival is to really engage the audience, engage the performers and, just have fun with it, you know?"

Gillgreen, who has been involved in community theatre for more than 30 years, said he is excited to bring something fresh and exciting to the commmunity. 

The festival, scheduled for August 22, will feature eight plays across a range of genres during afternoon and evening performances. 

"It's giving locals the chance to get involved in something that perhaps they've never thought of before and it's about bringing something to Ōpōtiki, and giving people a chance to just give it a go." 

The festival will be hosted at the historic De Luxe Theatre, which Gillgren said will help bring live performances back to the venue. 

"It's quite exciting, because the De Luxe Theatre is turning 100 this year, and there hasn't been really continuous live theatre there for quite some time, I believe, so it's, it's exciting for the theatre as well."

"I'm just super excited that it's something that the community can not only get involved with, but also, come and, come and see the shows."  

Open auditions will be held this Sunday, and Gillgren encourages anyone intersted to get involved. 

"People get experience on stage, they'll also get experience working within a team, they'll make heaps of friends, and community theatre is good for putting people in a situation where everyone has fun and an opportunity to create their own magic." 

Following a well-attended information session last weekend, he said people of all ages and experience levels are welcome to audition. 

"People hear the word audition and start to get nervous, but really it's just a chance for us to meet people, have some fun, and see where they might fit in.

"It's for everyone, we're not looking for a specific, genders or age ranges, all eight plays have a very diverse requirement for ages and genders, so whether you're outgoing or shy, there's lots of opportunities for everyone."

Gillgren is optimistic that locals will embrace the opportunity to try something new. 

"Some of the best performers and performances, were done by people just sort of walking in the door and giving it a go, and that's what it's really about."

Looking ahead, Gillgren hopes the group will stage a full length production at De Luxe Theatre later this year. 

Discussions for use of the theatre is already underway, and Gillgren already has a production in mind.  

Currently in negotiations with the theatre, the production would be an original comedy. 

Written by Gillgren, the comedy follows an alien who is unceremoniously dumped on Earth and finds himself counselling a couple on the brink of a break up. 

The production would provide another creative outlet for local theatre enthusiasts and give those who enjoy the Short Play Festival an opportunity to continue their involvement in the performing arts, he said.