Dates: Fri 11 (evening), Sat 12th and Sun 13th March.

For some, the word Cabaret is associated with the 1970’s Liza Minelli movie. But for others it means the doorway to theatrical performance without the bind of traditional theatre.Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment that can feature music, song, dance, recitations, or drama but most often a combination of at least 2 of them.

There are multiple opportunities for performers in Southland, but often not the type of opportunity where people can truly explore who they are as performers. The Cabaret Workshop Weekend is an opportunity to create and develop skills and a culture where Southland singers can develop a new artform that both performers and audiences will be able to explore together.

With some targeted direction, we believe the art form of cabaret could become a major part of the Invercargill and Southland theatre scene, giving people of all ages, genders, race, abilities and sexuality a safe and exciting place to share their stories through song and performance.

Goals:

• To create a cabaret culture in Invercargill and Southland
• To develop a confident and strong network of cabaret artists throughout the Aotearoa
• To give performers a strong set of skills and knowledge to feel confident to write and perform a short cabaret
• To promote a strong creative community that creates original new work.
• To empower performers of all ages, genders, race, ability and sexuality to perform with pride.

This workshop has been designed by Hamish, Rutene and Mark to get maximum outcomes for everyone involved. All three have been involved in education and tutoring for multiple years and have hundreds of hours combined working with people from all ages, races and ability.

Having grown up in the theatre scene of Invercargill, Hamish has a strong knowledge of the calibre of talent in Invercargill and Southland and believes that this workshop weekend could reignite the passion of some of Invercargill and Southland’s most talented performers.

The Cabaret Workshop Weekend will cover:

What is Cabaret? An introduction to the form of cabaret.
Introduction to Group Number

Working with a Pianist

A session with Mark with a focus on how to communicate to your accompanist. These are skills that can be used in creating cabaret, but also in everyday performances and auditions.

This session will also be where the group continues to learn the group number to perform at the Sunday performance.

Writing Original Music vs APRA

A session with Rutene where he shares his knowledge and skills that he has used to create original music productions. The session will also include discussions and explanations on the process of getting rights from APRA (with Hamish)

Creating Original Character? Or playing yourself?

A session with Hamish about creating a character to be the vessel in which you can explore cabaret.
This session will also cover the other side of the coin and creating cabaret as yourself.

Prep time

This will be a time for the participants and facilitators to share their ideas for the final performance on Sunday. Each participant will have a 5 -7 minute slot to trial an idea for a cabaret on Sunday evening for an audience of friends and family in a private performance.
This will be a time for people to share ideas with facilitators and peers to develop them.

Master Class

A session where everyone will work on the number they are doing in the showcase. Each member will have a time to present a part of their set that they would like some feedback on. Mark, Hamish and Rutene will work with the participant to help them.

Showcase performance

Hosted by Rutene and Hamish with Mark playing, this is a safe space for the participants to perform their cabaret ideas for family, friends and an invited group.

Tutors

Hamish McGregor

Hamish McGregor is an actor, vocalist, director and educator, originally from Invercargill, and now based in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Hamish’s previous performance work includes Dayj in Tom Sainsbury’s Gays in Space in 2021, Thenardier in Les Miserable at Auckland’s Civic Theatre in 2019, extensive work as a vocalist with Operatunity Daytime Concerts and Travel, taking over Q Theatre’s Loft in Karaoke Boiz as part of the 2019 Pride Festival, and his own on-woman show Living Large with Marge, as part of Basement Theatre’s 2018 Winter Season.
Hamish has directed productions of Avenue Q in both Auckland and Gore. In 2015, along with Nomi Cohen, Hamish co-wrote and directed Hungover, a musical comedy which had a successful season at Basement Theatre Auckland.
A primary trained teacher, Hamish has spent 15 years working in schools across New Zealand and Asia. His passion for musical theatre and education have seen him running workshops across New Zealand for the country’s next generation of performers. In addition to this Hamish has directed numerous school productions for Academic College Group (ACG) in Auckland.
Hamish is trained in the Meisner Technique under Michael Saccente

Rutene Spooner

Ngāti Porou, Ngaruahine, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki
Since graduating in 2009 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Musical, the
singer, actor and divisor has toured nationally and internationally for various
theatre and corporate entertainment companies.
He has appeared in shows such as: Anything Goes; The Buddy Holly Musical, Grease, Avenue Q, Lacage Aux Folle, The Mikado, Oklahoma, Chicago, Billy Elliot The Musical (New Zealand Premiere), Pop Up Globe to name a few, and most recently in the Australian tour of Jersey Boys.
Rutene made his cabaret debut at the 2017 Auckland Live International Cabaret
Festival with his solo cabaret ‘Super Hugh-Man’ directed by Jennifer Ward-
Leiland, which was awarded for Excellence in Performance at the 2017 Auckland
Theatre Award. Since then Rutene has toured nationally and internationally to great acclaim.
Rutene is one of the country’s premiere cabaret performers. New Zealand Heralds describes him as “a stalwart on the Auckland cabaret scene”
Outside of his busy performance schedule, Rutene also works as a director for
television, a creative producer and vocal and performance coach.
Rutene is also a proud member of Te Kapa Haka of Whāngara-Mai-Tawhiti and the Modern Māori Quarter.

Mark Bradley

One of Aoteroa’s most in demand musical directors and pianists, Mark has an Associate Diploma in Piano Performance from the Zealand Music Education Board and a Bachelor of Arts/Commerce from Auckland University. He currently plays for various musical theatre productions in Auckland, as an in-demand pianist for cabaret artists and as a piano teacher.
Mark has an impressive array of musical direction and band credits for multiple local and international touring productions including Madagascar, School of Rock (Australian Tour), Disney’s Aladdin (Australian Tour), Wicked (Australian Tour), West Side Story (International Tour), The Phantom of The Opera , Sister Act,Mamma Mia! Evita The Producers, The Addams Family, 13: The Musical, Les Miserables, Spring Awakening, Next To Normal, The Little Mermaid, Spam-a-lot, Beauty and The Beast, Hair, and Aida.