First New Zealand Production of Disney's MARY POPPINS Begins Tonight at The Court Theatre

The first ever New Zealand professional production of Disney's Broadway musical MARY POPPINS comes to the stage at The Court Theatre in time for Christmas.

Based on the 1964 Walt Disney movie and the stories of writer Pamela Travers, MARY POPPINS is packed with supercalifragilisticexpialidocious adventures, musical numbers and magical moments. The production runs tonight 21 November 2015 - 23 January 2016 on the Tonkin and Taylor main stage at The Court Theatre, directed by Ross Gumbley and Stephen Robertson, with musical direction by Richard Marrett and choreography by Stephen Robertson.

Audiences will feel wrapped up in every second of the show. "At The Court Theatre there is always intimacy, which is a good thing," says MARY POPPINS co-director Stephen Robertson. "As a Disney production it will have all the aspects of a large musical but the audience will feel part of the spectacle rather than just viewing it from a distance."

Robertson has designed over 150 costumes for the show all of which are made by The Court's costume department. Work began several months ago by two dedicated costume makers but has grown to encompass a team of eight.

It is not just the costumes that are new, this is an entirely new production. The set design will be fresh and different, utilising LED screens to lend the traditional show a contemporary edge.

The world's most famous nanny is being played by Melbourne based Cantabrian, Laura Bunting. Bunting is a National Academy of Singing & Dramatic Art (NASDA) trained actor who appeared in season one of The Voice Australia and was picked to join Joel Madden's team. Bunting returns home after performing as Elphaba in the Australian tour of Wicked. MARY POPPINS will be her Court Theatre debut.

Bunting will be assisted in the role by fellow NASDA actor Emily Burns who delighted school holiday audiences recently in the title role in Little Red Riding Hood.

Also coming from Australia is Jan Di Pietro who will play Bert. He joins the cast fresh from the Sydney based production of Anything Goes. Di Pietro trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) in New York where he received one of the school's highest honours, the Charles Jehlinger Award for excellence in acting.

Fans of Ali Harper will be delighted to see her back on The Court's stage in the role of Mrs Banks.

Musical Director Richard Marrett is combining the big sound of the fully orchestrated Broadway production with the cast of 28 actors from New Zealand and Australia who will sing all the ensemble songs. "We have amassed the best collection of voices that I can recall in my years of working at The Court," says Marrett.

No production of MARY POPPINS would be complete without aerial antics. Specialists in theatrical flying will be working through the challenges of delivering those magical moments during the show.

The Court's production of MARY POPPINS comes at the time when Disney has announced it will be producing another MARY POPPINS adventure set 20 years ahead in post-depression London.

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Full Cast: Laura Bunting: Mary Poppins; Jan Di Pietro: Bert; Emily Burns: Mary Poppins (Alternate); Nick Purdie: Bert (Alternate); Ali Harper: Mrs Banks; Michael Lee Porter: Mr Banks; Emma Moore: Jane Banks; Olivia Costello: Jane Banks; Toby Cammock-Elliott: Michael Banks; Ollie Bubb: Michael Banks; Yvonne Martin: Mrs Brill; Cameron Douglas: Robertson Ay; Angela Johnson: Miss Andrew; Lucy Porter: Bird Woman; Steven Ray: Admiral Broom/Bank Chairman; Allegra Canton: Ensemble; Awhimai Fraser: Ensemble; Ben Freeth: Ensemble; Brylee Lockhart: Ensemble; Chris McRae: Ensemble; Hannah Spedding: Ensemble; Jack Marshall: Ensemble; Jane Leonard: Ensemble; Jason Yang- Westland: Ensemble; Kim Garrett: Ensemble; Olly Humphries: Ensemble; Tizane McEvoy: Ensemble; Tom Worthington: Ensemble

Band: Richard Marrett: Conductor/Keyboard; Matt Everingham: Keyboard; Michael Story: Bass; Iain Brandram-Adams: Cello

Creative Team: Ross Gumbley: Co-Director; Stephen Robertson: Co-Director, Choreographer, Costume Designer; Richard Marrett: Musical Director; Harold Moot: Set Designer; Grant Robertson: Lighting Designer; Ben Rentoul: Sound Designer; Glen Ruske: Sound Designer; Dave Sparks: Animation Designer; Ashlyn Smith: Stage Manager

To book, phone 03 963 0870 or visit www.courttheatre.org.nz. Tickets $39 - $69. Recommended for ages seven and up.

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