Punk Rock – a collaboration with the University of Otago Theatre Studies Programme
Fortune Theatre’s up and coming show, Punk Rock, is something a bit special in that it is a first time collaboration with the University of Otago’s Theatre Studies Programme. This collaboration brings ten third year Theatre Studies students into the professional theatre world of Fortune Theatre.
Hamish Annan, Andrew Coshan, Sinead Fitzgerald and Ailis Oliver-Kerby are Theatre Studies students that have been cast as actors in Punk Rock, alongside five professional actors from around New Zealand. The remaining six Theatre Studies students; Christy Nicholls, David Stock, Georgia Davenport, Jordan Dickson, Macmillan Veitch and Zoe Robson, are working in various roles behind the scenes, ranging from education liaison, production managing, costuming, assistant directing, lighting, and marketing.
The collaboration has been made possible through the development of a University honours level paper which enables the students to gain points towards their degree as they gain professional theatre experience.
Being a first time collaboration, Punk Rock becomes a pilot for this unique experience of joining Fortune Theatre and the University of Otago. While the collaboration involves university students, the show is by no means a ‘student production’. Punk Rock is still very much a polished and professional piece of theatre, with just as much expected from the student actors and crew as the professionals.
