The Santa Claus Show 09
The Pumphouse Theatre, Takapuna, Auckland
07/12/2009 - 23/12/2009
Production Details
Magic of Christmas On Stage in December
The magic of Christmas comes to life on stage in December when Santa stars in his very own stage show.
Tim Bray Productions presents The Santa Claus Show at The PumpHouse Theatre, Takapuna from 7-23 December, with two shows daily at 10.30am and 1pm. The Gala Opening is on Saturday 12 December at 7pm.
Kelly and Alana are best friends. However, Kelly has sent the longest Christmas wishlist that Santa has ever seen, so Santa flies Kelly to the North Pole so she can learn for herself the true meaning of Christmas.
Tim Bray wrote the show 18 years ago and this year sees its eighth production, starring Tim Raby as Santa for the sixth time, and Kura Forrester returning as Kelly.
"It’s now become part of the Christmas tradition on the North Shore," says Tim Bray. "We have people who come back every year as part of the way they celebrate Christmas and that’s a wonderful feeling for us."
The show has also been used by school and kindergarten groups, and by companies as an end-of-year staff and family outing. Some have had picnics after the show, or enjoyed a fully catered function at the café next door.
"Bray’s modern day Kiwi Christmas pageant is resplendent with quirky characters, candid quips, quick changes, crazy costumes, as well as more serious social questions for consideration. All in all a merry little Christmas cracker." – Theatreview
The Santa Claus Show
The PumpHouse, Takapuna, Auckland
7-23 December
10.30am and 1pm daily.
The gala Opening is on Saturday 12 December at 7pm. Book tickets by phoning (09) 489-8360 or online at www.timbrayproductions.co.nz
Generous group, school and pre-school concessions available.
Santa Claus: Himself
Santa Claus' stunt double: Tim Raby
Kelly: Kura Forrester
Elfie: Adam Burrell
Alana / Barbie: Katrina Wesseling
Kelly's Dad: Tim Raby
Girl / Music Box Dancer /Rudolph: Merrin Cavel
Dad / Woody: Todd Emerson
Balloon Seller / Teddy Bear: Henry Winder
Twitty: Emily Ansell / Dominique Ansell
Twiddly: Rebecca Ansell
Shadow Puppets: Adam Burrell, Todd Emerson
Musician: Philip Kim
NZ Sign Language Interpreter: Kelly Hodgins
Set Design: John Parker
Lighting Design: Michael Knapp
Costume Design: Chantelle Gerrard
Lighting / Sound Operator: Michael Craven
Stage Managers: Alana Tisdall, Todd Emerson
Ushers: Polly Smith, Bryce Hatton
Chaperone: Kate Smith
Costume Construction: Chantelle Gerrard
Set Construction: Frank Checketts, Alana Tisdall, Bryce Hatton
Lighting Crew: Jason Pipi, Michael Craven
Star Cloth: Sophie Ham, Alana Tisdall
Shadow Puppet Design: Trygve Wakenshaw
Letters: Judith Bishop
Publicist: Sally Woodfield, SWPR
Trust Accountant: Rachel Humphrey, KiwiConnect
Trust Treasurer: Lynn Holland
Illustration: James Stewart
Advert Designs: Stefania Sarnecki, Red Design
Logo Design: Insight Creative Ltd
Teacher's Resource Guide: Rosemary Tisdall, Getting Kids into Books
Schools Liaison: Ken and Margaret Bray, Gill Saker
Photography: Nick Clarke Photography Ltd
Website Design: David Martin, Office Logic
For The Operating Theatre Trust
Production Manager: Bryce Hatton
Artistic Director: Tim Bray
Traditional heartwarming fun
Review by Nik Smythe 13th Dec 2009
Ho ho ho! It’s the eighth Christmas season of The Santa Claus Show! It’s my second time seeing it, and my son’s third. Far from getting stale in fact it’s as fresh, alive and joyful as ever, and a growing tradition for many – one family attended for the fourth time.
There are a number of cast changes from the 2007 production, but the show remains the same in script and basic direction. Perhaps most importantly, Santa Claus himself is back in the title role, with Tim Raby filling in as the stunt double for Santa Claus’s dangerous entrance.
Kelly (Kura Forrester) is a domineering brat whose always bossing round her best friend, the pure-hearted Alana (Katrina Wesseling). Not intentionally cruel, Kelly’s self-centred insensitivity is well cast as the innkeeper when she and Alana rehearse their Nativity play for Christmas day.
Meanwhile at the North Pole, Santa’s appropriately named head elf ‘Elfy’ sorts Santa’s Christmas mail. Impressed by the unprecedented length of Kelly’s list of gift requests, he magically transports her in her bed all the way to the Arctic to fulfil the singular honour of being Santa’s annual special helper.
The other ensemble members playing various roles combine into a rich panto-style experience; notably the super-cute elf helpers Twitty and Twiddly (Shared alternately by Emily, Dominique and Rebecca Ansell. In the course of the adventure of her lifetime, Kelly learns the most important lesson about the spirit of Christmas and the genuine joy of giving.
The main ingredient of the show is Fun! There’s the magic sleigh, hide and seek games with the Christmas toys and plenty of witty one-liners for young and old alike. Plus the wonderful costumes of Chantelle Gerard, magical illusionary props and hilarious shadow puppets designed by Trygve Wakenshaw.
I suppose there’s a few Scrooges out there, derisive of the whole Christmas aesthetic. For everyone else, there’s nothing not to like about the Santa Claus Show. And remember: in the tradition of all Tim Bray Productions holiday family theatre shows, children in thematic costume get to show off their outfits on stage and receive a wee treat to boot.
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