CULTURE Junior Production – Puffs
time and yet always bringing such joy and positivity to the room. Needless to say, we are incredibly proud of this cast, as well as the dedicated crew members who made it all seamless behind the scenes. It was gratifying to see our junior crew take the lead successfully in stage management, and sound and lighting operation – probably dealing with more cues than a senior production. We cannot wait to see how they flourish in their respective talents as we launch into the next great adventure.
There is a certain fantastic nostalgia associated with the Potter stories that is irresistible to those of us who have grown up eagerly awaiting the next novel. So, when the opportunity arose to direct Puffs for our combined junior production with St Margaret’s College, we jumped at the chance. Puffs is a play full of those familiar characters alongside rich new roles for young actors to explore their craft fully. It is both silly and fun, deep and dark, just like the loyal Puffs who will do anything for their friends. It is a tale every young person can identify with: a new school, trying to fit in, and dealing with pressure, fear, and emotions, but maybe fewer mythical creatures.
Now while you might have heard of a certain boy wizard with a strange scar on his forehead, did you know there was another orphan who found himself whisked away to Wizarding School that same year? Raised in America by his Uncle Dave, Wayne Hopkins discovers that he may be destined for something great when an owl delivers a letter that changes his life forever. This is the story of the Puffs – kind, selfless, and somehow always in last place. They may not be the bravest or the smartest, but they are there through it all and their quest is just as epic. Dementors, dragons, and the Dark Lord himself will try to tear our trio of outsiders asunder as they
endeavour to survive the next seven years of Potter-induced chaos. Beautifully written by Matt Cox, the Narrator (Gus Elworthy) helps us navigate this fantastical new world where our hopeful hero, Wayne (Cole Moffatt), teams up with Oliver (Alex Johnstone), a math genius whose talents are suddenly useless, and Megan (Tessa de Wit), the moody daughter of an evil witch, as they desperately try to fit in, grow up, and prove that Puffs can be heroes, too. Their relatable antics celebrate the extraordinary power of friendship, courage, and the unwavering belief in oneself.
While this play can be performed simply with a cast of eight to 10 people on a bare stage, there is no fun in that. We decided to go all out with regards to costumes, props, lighting, sound, music, and, especially, our incredible set, designed with – and built by – our exceptionally talented colleague, Kerry Brockelbank, and his construction students. We are grateful to the adult team behind this show (and every show) and extend our thanks to Kerry, Philippa Dye, Waimere Mahaka, and Luke Wyn-Harris for their energy, time, and commitment to the dream. Our special thanks go to Hannah Clarkson for keeping us focused, fed, and caffeinated throughout the rehearsal process. She may be a little magical herself. Thank you to everyone who came along and supported Puffs . We hope it brought you as much joy as it did us. And remember, the greatest magic of all is love, wherever you may find it. Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus. Nikki Bleyendaal & Shannon Small Directors of Puffs
The production began with a sorting – auditions to find an exceptional and committed cast of students who could tell stories with energy and joy, were not afraid to be silly and physically creative, were keen to work in an ensemble as well as have their moment in the spotlight, and those willing to experiment boldly in rehearsal. Only 37 of the nearly 90 students who auditioned were selected to partake in this adventure and made an extraordinary effort to earn their place in the company. The challenge in any piece of theatre is ensuring the cast is cohesive, collaborative, and, above
all, enthusiastic about the story, and they have certainly exceeded those expectations in every performance. They have taken on new challenges, learnt to puppeteer and craft, and dance and fight. We could not be more proud of them and their dedication to this extraordinary production. We have asked a great deal of these young people: maturity, enthusiasm, dedication, courage, and exceptional theatrical skills, and they have strived (sometimes a little too hard) to explode onto the stage with all the dynamic energy of these ridiculous characters, relinquishing their free
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Christ’s College Canterbury
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