It's his first year out of theatre school and Joel Granger is having the kind of time young performers hope for, but are warned is unlikely to happen.
Born in Palmerston North but raised in Orewa, Granger comes "home" for his first professional role in New Zealand. He plays Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd, the young boy who discovers the special ingredient the Demon Barber of Fleet Street provides Mrs Lovett with for her famous pies.
"This is my first time working for an opera company, which is very exciting because, although I trained classically growing up, I haven't nearly immersed myself in the opera world as much as I would like," he says.
But he's no stranger to the role of Tobias, saying it's been a dream role for a long time because he used to perform Tobias' signature number Not While I'm Around as a boy soprano. He says it was his "go to song", performed it for many a singing competition and concert.
How does he sum up the production?
