Boys in play for love, not money

Oliver Twist

Criticism of Christchurch's Court Theatre's no-pay policy for child actors is a storm in a teacup, says chief executive Philip Aldridge.

Auckland actor Geoff Dolan made the criticism in a Sunday paper, referring to the non-payment of 13 Medbury School pupils playing the parts of pickpockets, and one other as Oliver Twist, in the Court's forthcoming production of Oliver!.

Dolan said a professional theatre should pay all its actors.

Aldridge said yesterday that there was no issue, and the matter had been blown out of proportion.

The Court and Medbury had entered into a "mutually beneficial collaboration", aimed at providing experience for the boys and boosting their understanding and love of theatre.

The arrangement was working well. The looks on the boys' faces showed they were enjoying the opportunity and taking everything in.

Aldridge said the contact with all aspects of theatre must be good for their education. He hoped it would leave them with "an abiding love of theatre".

Aldridge said the school had never expected payment, and the boys were not interested in money.

"Money was never a consideration," he said.

"These are not actors. They are children. They are not even from a theatre school. I want them to be nothing but children and to go away as children, with an abiding love of theatre."

Aldridge remembered starting in theatre as a child in Oliver!, unpaid.

- NZPA