Co-directors Harry Almay and Kay Masters are working with an enthusiastic group of young performers to bring Billcliff’s script — which includes many opportunities for devising scenes — to life.
Break a Leg is based around an awards show, where the young performers re-create competing scenes across a wide variety of genres, in the hopes of winning a BAFTA — Break a leg Award For Talented amazing Actors.
Almay said Billcliff’s script acted like a scaffolding, allowing the play’s young actors to work alongside him and Masters to devise imaginative and entertaining scenes to perform.
The production’s young cast, including April Kerr, Echo Beres, Jake Harris, Ariel Holloway, Connor Broadhead, Hannah Fenemor, John Lindley, Freja Thatcher, Elizabeth Dearden, Jasmine McPherson, and Rosie Mitchell, were keen to add their ideas to the show, he said.
"Working on the script and devising scenes was a lot of fun for everybody, and the actors came up with some really fantastic ideas," Almay said.
It had been a very enjoyable process coming up with scenes across so many genres, including Western, comedy, dance, Shakespearean, horror and more, he said.
Break a Leg will be performed on a simple, "black box" set, and the cast will employ a broad range of props to enhance the action.
"It’s all about the performers and the audience using their imaginations."
As co-directors, Almay and Masters are enjoying working side-by-side on the show.
"We are having a lot of fun with it — and are finding we can really balance each other out."
Almay started out as an actor while at high school, with Toybox Productions shows, and has performed and stage-managed several shows at the Globe Theatre. He is now studying Theatre Studies at the University of Otago School of Performing Arts.
"Kay and I bring different experiences to directing, and it has been invaluable to be able to bounce ideas off each other," he said.
Break a Leg is the first production in the Globe Youth project, which aims to encourage young actors and those interested in theatre generally to become engaged with the Globe Theatre.
The project also aims to fulfil some of the purpose of the Toybox Productions children’s theatre programme, after its producers left town.
Along with on-stage performers, young people interested in the vital back-stage roles, such as stage management, props, lighting and sound, are also welcome to get involved with Globe Youth.
Masters said, as it had become increasingly difficult to find people to help with back-stage work, it would be fantastic to have the help of young people with the technical side of things at the theatre.
• The Globe Youth production Break a Leg, by Judi Billcliff, will run from July 15-20, at 6.30pm on week days and at 2pm on Saturday. Tickets available through Humanitix.
