Shortland Street fans everywhere could be in for a real treat as plans are in the works to turn the popular soap – which is on the brink of celebrating its 25th year – into a musical production.
Shortland Street – The Musical will pack in plenty of suspense and drama and features a stunning song line-up with names like You’re Not in Guatemala Now, Stuck in a Love Triangle, Cliffhanger, Kia Ora, Shortland Street and Bed-hopping.
The show was written by Guy Langford and has the go-ahead from the show’s production company, South Pacific Pictures. Long-time Shorty Street director and producer, Simon Bennett is also on board.
While Bennett admits when first approached about the musical he wasn’t sure it would work, but, he told NZME, after seeing a 15 minute presentation, that included song and dance numbers, he quickly changed his mind.
“Like Shortland Street itself, it’s quintessentially kiwi and it doesn’t take itself too seriously,” he said. “Television is very naturalistic whereas on stage, you can be a lot more theatrical and introduce different elements like dream sequences. I am very excited to be working with Guy on this and moving back into ‘theatre-land’.”
The hour-long performance pays homage to the show’s early years, and will take audiences back to 1992 when iconic characters like Alison Raynor, Jaki Manu and Dr Hone Ropata ruled the roost.
When the musical takes to the boards in March in won’t be in its finished form. It will play as a one-evening only performance at Auckland Arts Festival 2017 in the Raw: Projects in Development programme.
Watch the action from our Woman’s Day photo shoot with the girls from Shortland Street.
