Mum’s the word for Wintec staff behind new musical
The poster for Hamilton’s next original musical reads like a who’s who from Wintec’s School of Media Arts. The show’s music and lyrics were created by three Wintec Music and Performing Arts academics.
Showcasing the extraordinary vocal talents of international star Nic Kyle and leading New Zealand singers, Kyle Chuen (a Wintec tutor) and Scot Hall, Mum’s Kitchen is a one-act musical written by Wintec’s David Sidwell, Nick Braae, and Jeremy Mayall.
Mum’s Kitchen is the story of three brothers dealing with memories of the past, their relationships with each other, and the tense and fraught process of organising a funeral for their mother. They gather at the family farm for the first time in 15 years.
Wintec Manager, Music and Performing Arts, David Sidwell says the initial performances of this original piece will cover the first half of the narrative from the brothers’ arrival up to the day of the funeral, entailing the tension, drama and humour that emerges within this time.
Lead performer Nic Kyle, recently returned from Vancouver to his New Zealand roots. He spoke at Wintec’s Ramp Festival last month and held a workshop with Wintec students before staying on in Hamilton as a Wintec research fellow to create and collaborate on this work.
“It has been a pleasure and a privilege working with Nic who is a very experienced performer, and as well as working with us on this show, Nic has been available to mentor and guide our music and performing arts students,” says David Sidwell, who has been working closely with Nic.
The first cohort of students studying the Music and Performing Arts degree at Wintec this year are calling the theatre their classroom. Every year for the duration of the degree they will be working from a different Hamilton theatre, starting with the Meteor Theatre. These students were also involved in the recent musical success, Sweet Charity, directed by David Sidwell.
Entry to Mum’s Kitchen is by Koha. Find out more here.
Find out more about the School of Media Arts at Wintec.
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