Media Release
28 August 2013

Kuranui to Host Inspirational Kiwi Play

Kuranui College, in partnership with the Kokomai Creative Festival, Wairarapa and PGG Wrightson, will be presenting Renee Lyons’ inspirational one-woman play ‘Nick: An Accidental Hero’.

Renee will take the audience through an incredible journey as she successfully weaves 12 years of a young man’s life, and the lives of those around him, by performing all the main characters in his story in just one hour. The event will be limited to 200 tickets as the Kuranui auditorium provides an intimate backdrop for a very special show.

‘Nick: An Accidental Hero’ is the story of Nick Chisholm, an adrenaline-fueled young kiwi from Dunedin, who took to the rugby pitch one day and subsequently suffered a series of cerebral strokes that locked him in his body. Although no longer able to move, speak or even eat without a tube, Nick is still all there, he’s mentally active, frustrated and very angry. He could have given up, but he didn’t, he took his body on through a gruelling gym routine that would have most able-bodied rugby players reeling.

Renee wrote the play after coming across Nick’s story on the internet and it would have been easy to write a sentimental piece of drama, but this is a far cleverer piece of work. Although the subject matter is serious, there are many comedy moments during her performance, as the show can’t help but make you cry and laugh out loud.

Directed by Abigail Greenwood, and with creative lighting from Jane Hakaraia and sound design from Alistair Deverick, the show has already graced theatres in Wellington and Auckland and is currently being performed at the Edinburgh Festival.

Kuranui Principal Geoff Shepherd is delighted that the college has the opportunity to present the play “We’re very privileged to be able to host Renee’s show as part of Wairarapa’s Creative Festival Kokomai. Nick’s story teaches us all a little something about endurance, perseverance and a love for life and Renee’s performances will give our drama students something to aspire to.”

Kokomai is a new creative festival bringing a diverse range of performance, spectacle and engagement to rural and urban neighbourhoods across the Wairarapa from 18-27 October 2013. ‘Nick: An Accidental Hero’ shows on Sunday 20 and Monday 21 October, tickets will be available through Dash tickets and at www.kokomai.co.nz from the 5th September.

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