Dunedin actor brings one-man show to Gore

Residents of Gore and West Otago will have a new option for evening entertainment this month as a touring production arrives in the district. The one-person play End of Summertime, written by Sir Roger Hall, features Peter Hayden in the role of Dickie Hart. The story centers on a retired dairy farmer who reluctantly agrees to move to Auckland because his wife, Glenda, wants to live closer to their grandchildren.

Hayden described his character as being put out by the idea of leaving the rural area. In the script, Dickie complains that Auckland is crowded, expensive, and plagued by terrible traffic. The character notes a lack of community spirit and observes that residents focus heavily on money. He also laments that the city does not have a decent rugby team. Hayden said he believes people living in or around Gore will identify with these sentiments and enjoy the character's antics.

Hayden noted that his wife, Jeannie Mackay, is from a Riversdale farming family, which gave him familiarity with the district and its arts scene. He praised Gore for punching above its weight. He stated that rural and semi-rural people, or those living in a service town, will relate to Dickie and find the performance amusing. He described the experience as providing a lot of laughs for the audience.

The production is staged by Dunedin’s Glorious Ruins collective. Performances are scheduled for November 18 and 19 at Gore’s Little Theatre. The final show in the tour will take place on November 20 at the West Otago Community Centre in Tapanui. All performances begin at 7.30 pm.

End of Summertime is the third entry in a trilogy that began in 1996 with C’mon Black. That earlier work followed Dickie on a trip to the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. The second installment, You Gotta Be Joking!, was first staged in 1999. Karen Elliot, the director and producer from Dunedin, said the show was performed in Dunedin in May. She reported that they had full houses every night during that run.

Elliot, who has worked in theatre since 1984, explained that the Dunedin shows received funding from the Dunedin City Council and the Otago Community Trust. The touring dates in Gore and West Otago do not have that financial backing. She said the collective decided to proceed with the tour in the district regardless of the lack of funding. Tickets are available online through Humanitix or at the door on the night of the performance.