Young actors display their true passion

DRAMA QUEENS: (From left) Georgia Petrie, 10, Lucy Cruickshank, drama tutor, Catriona Savage, 10, and Holly Hancox, 9. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA.

X-Factor Wairarapa is coming to Masterton - in parody form.

The three youngest performers on the Kokomai festival community stage have developed their own comedy skit which they will perform on Sunday.

Hadlow school students Georgia Petrie, Catriona Savage and Holly Hancox said they were a bit nervous but all had performed on stage before.

They wrote their skit based on the televised singing competition X-Factor, with "a tiny bit of help" from drama tutor Lucy Cruickshank, during "passion" time at school. Passion time, said school principal Michael Mercer, is when students can dedicate themselves to something they love and that is outside the usual curriculum.

An expert is brought in to help them learn about their passion.

So far, an architect, a veterinarian and a chef have come in, said Mr Mercer.

"It's about broadening their education," he said.

The girls will be the first act on as part of a line up of local musicians and performers playing in the Masterton Town Hall.

Intermediate-aged children who are taking part in orchestral workshops this week will also perform the fruits of their labour on Sunday.

Internationally renowned street performer Vinyl Burns will MC the event, which is on after the Powerco Masked Parade in Queen Elizabeth Park.