At the end of Term 2 our whole-school production of The Addams Family Musical took to the stage

At the end of Term 2, our whole-school production of The Addams Family Musical took to the stage, delighting audiences with its hilarious, quirky, and entertaining performances. With a double-cast bringing twice the energy and excitement, our students performed to an outstanding standard. It was a privilege to perform at the Glen Eden Playhouse and showcase the incredible talent, dedication, and passion of our Performing Arts students at Rutherford College. Here are some of the voices from the cast and  crew sharing their highlights and achievements of the production:   Miss Tania Wilson, Director, The Addams Family   

Being in the Addams Family Production as Uncle Fester this year was honestly one of the funniest experiences during my time at Rutherford. I made so many new friends and I saw a lot of strong friendships being formed between different year levels which was cool as I feel like we often don’t have opportunities to mix year levels to get the opportunity to make these friendships. I also gained a great deal of confidence, both as an actor and as a person. I am deeply grateful to all those who helped bring it together, especially our performing arts teachers who went above and beyond caring for both us and the show. A particular highlight was getting to work in an actual theatre this year which expanded my experience and mindset as a performer. As a senior student the opportunities I was given this year made me reflect on how much I love drama and, with the future looming closer, has opened me up to the consideration of studying drama after school which was something I had not really considered beforehand. Overall it was honestly a life changing experience and something that will stay with me forever.                                                     Grace O'Sullivan – Uncle Fester, The Addams Family   

Having the chance to be a part of this production was honestly the best experience ever and I am always going to remember how much it impacted my year, as well as my friendships and passion for musical theatre. I am so incredibly grateful to have played Morticia and share the stage with such talented people. The cast felt like a big family where everyone supported each other and gave their all with each dance, scene and song. I love the Addams Family with all my heart and am so so sad it’s over now, but I learned so much about musical theatre, and got to show people how much work we put into creating the show.                                                            

Ruby Murphy - Morticia, The Addams Family   

Being a dancer in the whole school production of the Addams family is something I am going to hold forever in my heart. I was a dancer in the Junior production of Aladdin in 2023, there was a smaller cast of talented and kind people which we ended up building a little family out of, it felt like no matter what I did from 2023 to 2026 I would always know that little family was there to support or just say hi in passing. When I found out this year that there was going to be a whole school show I instantly knew I had to audition. This cast was way bigger but the feeling of a family was still there, some from the Aladdin show and some new people joined but we still supported and uplifted each other throughout. Being a dancer is a different experience then most see in a production, the feeling of waiting underneath the stage before the show waiting to be revealed out the trap door was exhilarating and nerve racking. Once I began dancing on the stage the nerves disappeared straight away. Dancing has always been a massive passion of mine while at Rutherford and I've always felt so comfortable performing it to an audience. I'm so glad I got to perform alongside all these amazing actors, dancers and singers and work alongside the fabulous backstage crew that we couldn’t have done this show without.                                  Charlotte Dye - Dancer, The Addams Family   

I played Mal in Cast Grave and was delighted with the opportunity to perform with a brilliant cast and work with wonderful teachers. I loved every moment from callbacks to bows on closing night. It will be an unforgettable memory which I will cherish forever. I hope Rutherford does more of these because it demonstrates the talent at our school.  

Violeta Eraso Diaz - Mal, The Addams Family       

Having the privilege of being involved in the school production was an extraordinary experience and one that I will always cherish. Being backstage and watching everyone’s excitement and success before stepping on and off the stage is a feeling I will never forget. Running the props team was an incredible opportunity, and seeing every scene come together made all the hard work feel worthwhile. One of the most memorable parts of the experience was seeing how much hard work and commitment went into every aspect of the production. I learned so much, met so many new people and became close with people backstage and on stage. I feel incredibly grateful to have been part of such a special production and to have shared an experience that I will never forget. 

Erica Learmonth  - Backstage Crew (Props & Set) 

Production this year was an amazing experience. We all worked hard throughout the term and seeing everything come together was a showstopper! During this time I met many amazing people and developed strong relationships that I am hoping will last for the rest of my time at Rutherford. 

Kori Churchill - Lurch, The Addams Family   

My work with Rutherford College's Addams Family Production was unlike anything I had ever participated in before.  I worked alongside such amazing people in both the stage crew and BTS workers as I had the honor to design the booklet that was used to showcase all the incredible actors, dancers, teachers and stage crew, etc. Even though it was challenging to go through the booklet so many times to make sure everything was perfect, it was worth it knowing it would help the audience and performers remember such an amazing experience with the entire Kōtuku family.                     

Kaleb DuRepos, Programme Booklet Designer 

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a group more supportive and friendly as the cast and crew of this strange little production. There was something really unique about this show, the people, the costumes, the set. The people behind this production spent countless hours committing everything they had to this show, but what they got out of it was so much greater.                                     

Jimmy Egginton, Poster Designer and Photographer  

I watched the show three  times each and although different cast members performed in some roles, every actor brought their character to life so convincingly with a touch of their own  that each performance was just as memorable as the last.  

The dancers were just as important to the production, bringing incredible energy and helping every scene come alive. The ensemble team sometimes just had to stand there but even in that, they showed such commitment and it was superb acting!  Every member of the production team—from the set, lighting, sound, costume, makeup, backstage crews to the designers and photographers—played an important role in bringing the show to greater heights. Their passion, creativity, and teamwork resulted in some of the best work I have ever seen from them. 

This production is a reminder of the power of theatre to transform students ( even without formal training in theatre ) into extraordinary performers and to bring out the very best in everyone involved, both on and off the stage. Much of the credit must go to the Performing Arts staff. Their passion, guidance, and belief in their students continually raise the bar, creating an environment where students are challenged to strive for excellence and achieve far more than they thought possible. Sandi Perumal,  Audience & Promotion Team   

Photographs by :  Jimmy Egginton, Bella Vega Marzano, Kaleb DuRepos