Play’s themes ‘still relevant’

]A Dunedin secondary school is bringing back a play one of its physics teachers wrote 19 years ago because its themes are still relevant today.

Kaikorai Valley College had the opening night for Copper, written by Gregory Cook, last night.

Mr Cook said when he wrote the play in 2006 his daughter had just been born.

Now she is in her first year at university.

He said he did not have to make too many changes to the script, but had added an extra scene near the end to make it flow better.

"It’s quite interesting because the themes and stories behind it are still relevant today.

"I haven’t had to change anything."

The play is about Copper, an orphaned child raised by dwarfs who moves to the city of "Dunerdan" to be a watchman.

Mr Cook said the themes included belonging and inclusiveness.

He was excited to see how a new audience would react to his work.

As a fan of fantasy novels and comedy, he had wanted to have a go at writing a play, Mr Cook said.

"I thought I better put my money where my mouth is and put this together."

The show was loosely inspired by Terry Pratchett’s novel Guards! Guards!.

mark.john@odt.co.nz