Waikato Diocesan School for Girls
Director: Lee Armitage
Musical Director: Maria Colvin
Band Master: Bridget Greenslade
Choreographer: Kimberly Blow (Class of 2021)
Technical Producer: Georgina Hewitt-McGrail
‘The course of true love never did run smooth.’ – William Shakespeare.
It has become apparent since living through a global pandemic that the course of live performance never did run smooth either. In February 2022, the Omicron outbreak forced the cancellation of Waikato Diocesan School for Girls production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ due to red level settings. Seven months later, a reboot of the production was announced. Sadly, the Year 13 girls who had been cast would no longer be able to perform in the 2023 production, but everyone else was able to keep their roles, or audition up to fill the roles vacated by departing students.
The Nancy Light Hall was transformed into a graffiti strewn, long-forgotten dilapidated London warehouse. Industrial set pieces and props had been sourced from all over the school and previous productions. This was certainly no fairy woodland or Athens-esque Court, it was an unapologetic dingy hangout for punks.
From the moment the cast bounded in, it was all on. For those unfamiliar with the storylines of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, it was of no consequence as there was a ‘Solution Provider for the Union of Audiences’ who would occasionally break proceedings to catch everyone up on the antics.
Modern references to UberEats, being blocked on Snapchat, Tiktokers and a ‘Yas, Queen’ amused the younger audience members. Even AI had a role to play in generating the eye-catching, colourful show poster.
Other highlights included the staff cameo by Faith (Koka) Tautuhi with ‘Stand By Me’; the physical comedy of the Lovers; the hilarious in-play performance by the Mechanicals; and the showstopping harmonies of Julia Sharrat and Kyra-Mae Wilson particularly in ‘Why Does Love Do This To Me.’
The muted dual coloured fairy wings worn by the dancers in ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends’ were sublime. Those costumes gave the troupe an ethereal elegance that was gutsy juxtaposition against the bold vibrant punk outfits worn by the majority of the cast.
Kimberly Blow’s choreography was dynamic and filled the space. The ensemble numbers proved Blow’s skill in turning non-dancers into confident movers who added to the overall spectacle enhanced by the expert lighting of ACLX.
Dio is blessed to have Lee Armitage and Maria Colvin at the helm of their productions. Both are courageous leaders who empower the students to challenge the norms and have fun with their characters.
Opening night jitters were soon forgotten as the cast settled into their performance. By the end of the show, the audience was fully participating, clapping along to the tightknit band.
A punk/Elizabethan Shakespearian mashup is on your bucket list, and now is the time to tick that off. Dio have staged a joyous, modern take on Midsummer, and this version would not go amiss at a larger arts festival. Bravo, Dio.
The show runs until 4 April 2023, and tickets are available via the school website.
Photography: Key Imagery
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