Musical Footrot Flats treads the boards

Iconic Kiwi tale Footrot Flats has been transformed into a musical and is hitting Papakura’s Off Broadway Theatre on April 14 to 28.

Thames-born Jenna Hudson completed a long auditioning process before being named as lead character Pongo.

“There were two to three days of auditions…about 20 odd females my age would have auditioned.”

By day Jenna works as an administrator at the Hauraki District Council, moonlighting at night with Hamilton-based theatre company Fullhouse Productions.

Miss Hudson has performed with various theatre companies throughout the Waikato region including Cartel Theatre Company, Carving in Ice, Papakura Theatre Company, and with Waikato University.

Her passion for performance was sparked in her final year of school when she played the lead in Hauraki Plains College’s production of Smithy.

The 23-year-old has notched up some major roles such as the Fullhouse Productions’ performance of King Lear at Hamilton’s Meteor, where she played the Fool.

The musical adaptation is based on Murray Ball’s Footrot Flats and was written by Roger Hall with composition by Philip Norman and lyrics from A K Grant.

Show director Terri de’Ath, is well-noted within her field casting for Disney USA, Underbelly Australia, and Powerangers USA, among others.

Tickets for the show are available at iticket or by phoning 09 361 1000 for bookings with adults at $27 and senior citizens and children at $25.

List of characters: Dan Broad (Dog); Dave Child (Cecil/Prince Charles); Marie von Keisenberg (Aunt Dolly); Jenna Hudson (Pongo/Ewe); Michelle Thorne (Jess/Ewe); Mike Howell (Cooch/Major); Rose Rogers (Cheeky); Ruth Wynne (Dolores/Ewe); Tony Wood (Wal); Lara Wyatt (Ewe); Cedric Richards (Boris and Horse) and Allan Wyatt (Man).