HUTT CITY COUNCIL NEWS RELEASE

14 April 2014
Little Theatre ‘awakened’ by new theatre company

Hutt City Council has welcomed the approach by Nextstage Theatre Company, led by local identity Geraldine Brophy, to bring professional theatre back to the stage of Lower Hutt’s Little Theatre.

Little Theatre, which is well known to local community groups, has been where many young performers have had their first experience in the spotlight. At age 15, Geraldine Brophy (best recognised for her theatre and television roles) produced her first production as writer and director of the senior school production on the Little Theatre stage as a student at Sacred Heart.

Brophy believes that to return nearly 40 years later with a professional company and a vision for performance growth in the Hutt Valley is a perfect project at this point in her career.

“There is a joyful synchronicity in coming back to my theatre beginnings and to be part of the “awakening” of the purpose-built Little Theatre with one of my own plays after so many years.

“Little Theatre was built in 1954 as a proscenium arch theatre, complete with orchestra pit and dressing room facilities for large performance companies and was part of a broader vision for the city to be a vital and energised centre”.

She believes that the arts in the Hutt are set to explode and grow. It’s a view shared by Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace.

“It will be wonderful to have Little Theatre used to its full potential, with a very welcome resident professional theatre company. This is a great addition to the city’s cultural and artistic assets, which include the nationally renowned Dowse Art Museum.

“It is fantastic to be able to continue to grow our arts offering in the region.”

Nextstage’s first play, Sleeping Around will open on 6 May and run for six performances until 14 May 2015. Tickets are available from Eventfindahttp://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2015/sleeping-around/lower-hutt

ENDS

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