OLIVIA HADLOW
Commander Claire and the Pirates of Provence
Q Who is your friend?
This is my right-hand man Pelorus Jack and we are setting out to defeat an evil French pirate.
Q Can you describe your show?
It’s a pantomime for children. It’s a free show and it’s been awesome taking it to children who have never seen theatre before. It is really special for us.
Q Does the cast interact with the audience?
There is times we ask the kids to come on stage and we have a part where we ask kids to get involved and help us save New Zealand.
Q The pantomime is touring to mark the Royal New Zealand Navy’s 75th anniversary. Where have you been?
All through the North Island — Gisborne, Napier, Rotorua, Auckland, Whangarei, New Plymouth and Palmerston North and we just started touring the South Island.
Q What has the reaction to the show been like?
It has been very well received. We’ve had more than 18,000 kids see it so far.
Q How is it having your father Mark Hadlow directing the show?
It’s cool working with Dad and taking a step back from being daughter and father and actually having to listen to him for once, take his direction and take heed of everything he tells me, which was interesting but it was a good experience.
Q Do you think he was harder on you than the rest of the cast?
He was equally as hard on all of us because he is close with all of us — we are like a big family, which is amazing.
Q Your favourite boat in history?
HMNZS Canterbury and we get to go on it soon and travel from Wellington to Auckland — that is really exciting.
● Commander Claire and the Pirates of Provence is on at Mayfair Theatre at 11am and 2pm today and tomorrow.
