Silblings help bring plays to life

Siblings Ira and Eleanor Crampton are both key members of the team bringing KAT Theatre’s upcoming production “Interactions – 3 plays for the price of 1” to life: Ira on lighting and Eleanor on properties.

The four performances of “Interactions” are on April 21, 22 and 23 at Cochran Hall, 106 Cashmere Avenue, and tickets can be bought through iTICKET.

This is Ira’s second KAT Theatre production as lighting operator, having previously been involved in four others – two in the cast and two as stage crew.

He has also recently been the lighting operator for the Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe production of Shakespeare’s “Henry IV Part 1”.

“I started out acting but quickly found that backstage and the technical side are much more fun,” he says.

“You’re involved in a practical way and you don’t have to get on stage or remember lines.”

Are you a fun-loving nurse?

Eleanor became active in Wellington’s theatre clubs more recently, starting as assistant stage manager for KAT Theatre’s “Sense and Sensibility” last year and this year in the cast of “Henry IV Part 1”.

She is enjoying the challenge of finding the things that each play needs on stage.

“KAT Theatre keeps a lot of props, so most were easy to find,” she says.

“The hardest would have been a Zyliss plastic salad slicer, but another crew member had one at home.

“So the old magazines were the hardest, one from 2004 and one from 1953. But sticking printed images of the covers of old ones from the internet onto present-day magazines did the trick.”

“Interactions” is a season of three short plays, bringing its audiences comedy, satire and nostalgia.

Two of the plays in the programme are recently written Kiwi scripts: “Domestic Bliss” by Christine Stachurski and “Token of Friendship” by Nataliya Oryshchuk.

The third is “The Proposal”, one of Anton Chekhov’s short comedies – this one satirising marriage.

“We did a rehearsed reading of this script at a ‘zoom’ club meeting during the Covid lockdown and I loved it,” Lynn Coory, director of “Domestic Bliss” says.

“I’m delighted to now be bringing it to the stage.

“It’s poignant, funny, nostalgic and I’m sure most women will recognise one of the characters as their grandmother, mother, sister – or themselves.”

Marty Pilott, director of “Token of Friendship” was drawn to it because as an ESOL teacher he is especially interested in exploring the interactions between locals and recent arrivals to New Zealand.

“Comedy is a great medium for showing us ourselves,” he says.

“Does a satire on the marriage conventions of the land-owning aristocracy of Russia in the 19th century have any relevance to 21st century Kiwis?” asks Hayden Roger, director of “The Proposal”.

“Maybe, maybe not, but it’s a fine piece of entertainment, and the pettiness and stubbornness of the characters will resonate with a modern audience.

“We’re thoroughly enjoying rehearsing it and I know our audiences will love it too,” he says.

We’d love to hear from you.

The elders of Enliven’s Huntleigh and Cashmere Homes are looking for fun-loving, caring, talented nurses to join their dedicated team. With Enliven positive ageing services, you’ll enjoy a wide range of clinical work, a supportive work environment, plenty of professional development and career progression opportunities, a focus on wellbeing and lots of fun!

“I love it here. The environment is friendly, and there are recreational activities all week