Remarkable Theatre Launches 2025 Season with Romantic Comedy

Remarkable Theatre is set to kick off its 2025 season with the opening of Take a Chance On Me, a romantic comedy penned by acclaimed New Zealand playwright Roger Hall. The production will debut next Thursday at the Athenaeum Hall in Arrowtown, and assistant director Melanie Grindell is confident that the play will resonate with audiences.

The narrative revolves around a group of singles navigating the complexities of love and life. Key characters include Fleur, played by Natalia Brown, a primary school teacher; Lorraine, portrayed by Victoria Mills, a homemaker; lawyer Eleanor, represented by Vanessa Williams; pharmacist Tim, played by Lindsey Muir; plumber Brian, featured by George Williams; and banker Dan, played by Peter Waaka, who has recently faced redundancy.

Dynamic Characters and Twist of Fate

As the story unfolds, these hopeful romantics encounter various challenges and opportunities for second chances in their quest for love. Grindell notes that while Peter Waaka is familiar to many theatre-goers, this marks his debut with Remarkable Theatre. George Williams, on the other hand, is making his first appearance with the company after participating in a previous production in the Queenstown Gardens.

Adding to the dynamic atmosphere of the play are the “facilitators” Eric and Liz, played by Marty Newell and Janey Bytheway, respectively. Each performer takes on multiple roles, with Newell embodying an impressive nine different characters. Grindell highlights this aspect as contributing to the play’s fast-paced nature, stating, “Marty will go off stage as one person and then come on as a totally different character.”

Experienced Direction and Vision

The production is helmed by director T.Ryan Brennan, who brings over a decade of experience in Hollywood as an assistant director for multi-camera sitcoms. Originally from the United States, Brennan has made Queenstown his home for several years. He has directed in Cromwell and has taken on lead roles in various local productions. Grindell praises his collaborative and artistic approach, saying, “He’s a very collaborative, enthusiastic director, very artistic and has got lots of ideas, which is great.”

Take a Chance On Me will run from next Thursday until September 20, 2025. Tickets are available through Humanitix, offering a chance for audiences to engage with this comedic exploration of love and relationships.