Actors Return to Christchurch to Support The Court

Rehearsals get underway tomorrow for the one-night-only musical extravaganza which is a part of the intensive campaign to raise $4.6 million.

The money is urgently needed to construct the new Court Theatre in Addington, known as ‘The Shed’, and have it open before the end of the year after the February earthquake resulted in devastation at the The Arts Centre, the Court Theatre's home since 1976.

George Henare, Paul Barrett and Jonathan Martin are well known to Christchurch audiences and will arrive in Christchurch on Monday 4th July to join a cast of performers for Carry on Court; an unforgettable evening of musical entertainment.

Barrett, who starred alongside George Henare in the 2009 Court Theatre hit, La Cage Aux Folles, has appeared in sixty-three shows as an actor and was a resident member of the company from 1985 to 1996. He is passionate about seeing the Court open again soon.

“Of course there was no hesitation in pledging our support. We are all part of The Court’s history and future, and we want to help as much as we can to ensure it is open again before the end of the year,” he says.

The Court’s artistic director, Ross Gumbley (who will MC the evening) says Carry on Court will present some of the very best from the Court’s musical theatre productions including ‘Song on the Sand’ with George Henare and Paul Barrett (La Cage Aux Folles), and a South Pacific medley with George Henare and Christchurch actress / singer, Ali Harper.
ENDS

Full cast:
George Henare / Paul Barrett / Ali Harper / Yvonne Martin / Nicolas Kyle / Lynda Milligan / Michael Lee Porter / Jonathan Martin / Kyle Chuen / Simon Goudie / Juliet Reynolds-Midgley / Hannah Wheeler

Carry on Court – Musical Director: Luke Di Somma, Choreographer: Sandra Rasmussen, Lighting Design: Brendan Aubrey. At The Aurora Centre for Performing Arts, cnr Greers Rd and Memorial Ave, Burnside, 8pm, Thursday 7 July. All tickets $100 (including complimentary glass of bubbly). Bookings: 963 0870 or online at www.courttheatre.org.nz

For further information, images or interview/photo opportunities, please contact: Jeff Clark, Communications Manager, The Court Theatre; Cell: 021 1199187 / email: communications@courttheatre.org.nz or Ali Jones, Ali Jones PR and Communications 027 2473112.