Working as an understudy on live history show The Great Storm of 1868 is the best summer job Genevieve Scanlan (17) can think of.
Miss Scanlan, who recently finished as a year 13 pupil at St Kevins College, participated in a drama workshop, led by The Great Storm's director, Hilary Norris, in Oamaru last month.
A drama enthusiast for many years, Miss Scanlan said she had been welcomed and reassured by the cast and crew of the show, which opens for the summer season on Wednesday.
Miss Scanlan, who planned to take theatre studies and English at the University of Otago next year, will have several guaranteed performances in January.
Ms Norris said she was very taken with Miss Scanlan's talent, ability and attitude.
Her involvement was a wonderful bridging opportunity between school and university.
"It's just a really good opportunity to get a taste for what its like to work as a professional actor and to be part of a team of professional theatre people," Ms Norris said.
