A beautiful heroine in a strange, exotic land...a conniving villain, bent on stealing her hand in marriage...and a lone hero, who must overcome the odds to rescue her...what will happen? Will goodness prevail?

If this sounds like your typical blockbuster movie plot, then you've just called out the formula for a Melodrama, which is what a dedicated team of Year 11 Drama students entered in the Otago TheatreFest this year.

A team of four performed 'The Tui Bird' by Angie Farrow, pulling superb reactions from the crowd including laughs, gasps, boos (for the villain!) and cheers. The team did especially well considering they were down one cast member, who had to work that night!

The cast on the night was:

Ethel – Aayden McKenzie

Lord Pratforth – Joe Lydiate

Jack – Ethan Towers

Sound Effects Performer – Julian Samson

The team won three awards:

Distinction Award for Production of Comedy – King's High School, 'The Tui Bird.'

Excellence in Acting Award – Joe Lydiate as Lord Pratforth.

Magic Moments Award – Aayden McKenzie, for Ethel's faint.

Congratulations to the cast.

If you want to see 'The Tui Bird' you can catch it at the Drama Showcase evening on Wednesday, 9 August in the PAC! Koha entry.