Work cut out for cast

Photo by Gerard O'Brien.

The Paper Cinema cast members rehearsing Odyssey at Kavanagh Auditorium this week are (from left) movement director Imogen Charleston, artistic director Nicholas Rawlings, musician Hazel Mills, musical director Christopher Reed and musician Katherine Mann, of England.

Mr Rawlings said the performers used 316 miniature paper cut-out puppets and several instruments to create a silent film to a score.

Since the first performance in 2012, the show has been performed in 10 countries, including Scotland, Georgia, Brazil, Indonesia, China, Germany and France. The New Zealand premiere was in Dunedin last night.

''And we are going to be in Malaysia in four weeks.''

Rawlings said the performers had been in Dunedin since Sunday and when it rained on Tuesday it reminded him of his hometown Poole, in Dorset.

''We had that glorious Monday and it was like `wow, this place is really amazing', but on Tuesday, it was a bit more familiar for us.''

Rawlings said in Dunedin this week some cast members had spotted humpback whales near Taiaroa Head, while others surfed at St Clair Beach.

Charleston said she enjoyed the easy access from the Dunedin business district to the beach.