Against all odds, Cornley Drama Society is returning to New Zealand and Australia very soon with its Olivier Award-winning comedy, The Play That Goes Wrong, and today we’re pleased to announce the unfortunate cast who has been selected for the 10th anniversary tour madness!
This fast-paced farce packed with inventive theatricality finds the Cornley Drama Society on opening night of its newest production, The Murder at Haversham Manor. As the incompetent theatre troupe attempts to stage this 1920s murder mystery, their production devolves into madcap mayhem. Lost props, forgotten lines, and poorly constructed scenery conspire against the clumsy cast, who fight for the show to make it to the final curtain call.
UK Director Amy Milburn zoomed into the antipodes recently to undertake exhaustive casting and, whilst possibly delirious with exhaustion, she was delighted with the array of comic talent on offer. The producers are proud to announce that they have found a new and incompetent bunch of ‘amateur’ thespians ready to take to stages in New Zealand and Australia from April this year.
The cast includes Joe Kosky who you might recognise from his acclaimed performance as Dewey Finn in the hit stage musical School of Rock throughout Australia and New Zealand as well as Shrek in Shrek or Oz in Come From Away.
Bringing the laughs fresh from a sold out season of Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom at The Court Theatre in Christchurch will be Jonathan Martin. Playing the pivotal role of uptight and nervous Chris Bean, the hapless, newly-appointed director of the Cornley Drama Society. Jonathan’s previous credits include Something Rotten!, Little Shop Of Horrors, The Producers, La Cage Aux Folles, North By Northwest, Avenue Q, the Australasian tour of Madagascar the Musical and with Pop-up Globe. He also featured in the Netflix film Falling Inn Love.
Joining them as Sandra, is Stephanie Astrid John, a multi-award-winning singer, actor, teacher, puppeteer and improviser who originated the role of Genevieve Gryffindor in the 2021 Australian premiere of Voldemort and the Teenage Hogwarts: A Musical. She appeared in Damon Gameau’s award-winning feature film, 2040 and tours nationally with the award-winning comedy group Ginger and Tonic.
Playing the role of once-terrified-turned stage boss Annie, is Olivia Charalambous — a creative hustler who’s made an appearance in Chopper: The Untold Story, a director, voice-over artist, drag queen, and future winner of Eurovision (representing Cyprus). Her theatre credits include The Grinning Man, Ruthless – The Musical and Young Frankenstein.
Eds Eramiha, a former professional Muay Thai fighter (those skills will come in handy!) is playing TREVOR, Cornley Drama Society’s stage manager. Having toured with Pop-up Globe’s productions of Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Puck and Curio he’ll be punching above his weight in the laughter department. His previous film credits include The Legend of Baron To’a, Mahana and The Dead Lands.
Brodie Masini (feat. films Revive, Hidden Light; theatre Tick, Tick, Boom!, Next to Normal) plays Jonathan, Sebastiano Pitruzzello (feat. films After Luke, I Want Back, The Killer Performance) is Max; Tom Hayward (feat. film Water; stage Happy Campers, Uncle Vanya) is Dennis; Anthony Craig (Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp, Unbroken and Lone Wolf, Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge);KiraJosephson (Power Rangers | Dino Fury (Jane Fairview), hit NZ Comedy Kid Sister (Bec Emanuel); theatre Strictly Ballroom, The Girl On The Train, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chicago, Legally Blonde the Musical) and Jack Buchanan (Power Rangers | Beast Morphers (Captain Chaku), Our Own Little Mess (Q Theatre), and Night of the Living Dead (Silo Theatre).
WELLINGTON | WELLINGTON OPERA HOUSE | 19 – 27 April | Ticketmaster
NEW PLYMOUTH | TSB SHOWPLACE | 30 April – 4 May | Eventfinda
CHRISTCHURCH | JAMES HAY THEATRE | 6 – 11 May | Ticketmaster
AUCKLAND | ASB WATERFRONT THEATRE | 14 May – 1 June | ATC.CO.NZ
