Star turns by lamplight

Genie and the Lamp's cast includes (from left) Sultan, Jarred Tito; Princess Yasmin, Marjan Shahrinia; and Grand Vizier, Yanik Esmael. Picture / Carolyn Robertson

North Head's network of tunnels and caves will be transformed into magical grottoes and enchanted caverns for a theatre work based on Aladdin.

The Genie and the Lamp is an offering from the North Shore-based Real Theatre Company, who last year presented March Madness, an adaptation of Alice In Wonderland, at Lake Pupuke.

The Genie and the Lamp - aimed at children of all ages, but particularly those between 8 and 12 - will see theatregoers take on the role of Aladdin when they enter the historic North Battery.

They will be faced with puzzles, codes, tasks and riddles in the challenge to navigate the tunnels and find the lamp and its genie.

Along the way they will come across fortune-tellers, a giant spider, a wandering mummy, a snake-pit filled with jelly snakes - and, of course, Princess Jasmine.

"We really want it to be magical rather than scary," says producer and designer Sarah Burren. "It's very interactive and fun and calls on all the senses to fully experience it."

Burren says a challenge of designing the play has been meeting conservation guidelines. Nothing may be attached to the walls, for example, so all props must be free-standing.

The location, rich in atmosphere and history, has given Burren plenty to work with. Keen to use the natural features of the tunnels, her design extends to judicious use of props, lighting and colourful characters.

Fifty people are involved in the production, including performers, technical crew, four stage managers and - weather permitting - a paraglider.

The Genie and the Lamp even boasts a Persian beauty to play the princess.

The two-year-old theatre company is a mix of theatrical newcomers and professionals. Working closely with the Real Theatre Company is DoC community relations programme manager Bill Trusewich.

"We often have film and television crews up here, and we have had a painting event and a poetry event, but this is the first time for theatre," he says. "Having the arts up here can really help raise the conservation issues of the area.

"We were thrilled when the Real Theatre Company approached us - a theatre company could never even begin to construct a set like this. It's so atmospheric and quite scary and it will just blow people away."

The tunnels were hand-hewn more than 120 years ago by colonial prisoners, and the area has a rich Maori heritage. It was a key site in Auckland's coastal defence system in World War I and II. The Navy had a training base in the area until 1996.

Audience members will be given a detailed map on arrival, and will be guided through the tunnels. Performances are staggered, starting every 15 minutes, come rain or shine, and the theatrical promenade will take about 45 minutes. Some of the profits will go to tunnel conservation.

Performance

*What: The Genie and The Lamp
*Where and when: North Head, Devonport, Sat Mar 12 & Sun Mar 13, 10am-12pm, 2-4pm