Playwright Karin Halliday said Fluffy and the Tail of Gold was first prepared for the stage in 2020 but had to be abandoned due to the pandemic.
Since then Mrs Halliday and director Pat Lines had staged several children’s theatre performances but it was time for Fluffy and their brothers to have their moment in the spotlight.
The cast of eight, ranging in age from 5 to 13 years old, played the roles of gold miners and rabbits, some taking on more than one character, she said
Central Otago gold mining history including the story of Riley and Hartley, who discovered gold in the Clutha River in 1862, was wound into the first scene.
Set designer and builder Keith Parks said he had been involved in Clyde theatre for many years.
A keen and skilled handyman he had made all the props as well as the set.
Fences and rabbits along with a boat, a gold mine and campfires had all been crafted from recycled materials to bring the story to life.
Costume designer and dressmaker Shona Laing said she had been wardrobe mistress for pantomimes when she lived in Clyde about 30 years ago.
She moved away and had a house staging business in Dunedin for a time.
Recently returned to Clyde she had become involved in the play.
"Pat Lines told me, didn’t ask me, told me to do the costumes."
However, clearly it is a labour of love with free rein given to her imagination.
"I have a couple of helpers and our motto is we don’t do ordinary."
Her sewing machine had broken and all the costumes were hand sewn with embellishments she had sourced from overseas.
"My mind is like rust and never sleeps.
"You’ve got to have something to do."
The rabbits were in costumes linked to the 1860s but were not typical cutesy types, she said.
Fluffy and the Tail of Gold will be performed at the Clyde Memorial Hall from August 30 to September 1.
