Rotorua Little Theatre show Glide Time set to be crowd pleaser

Characters attempt to liven up their mundane work routine. Photo/Shauni James

The audience of Rotorua Little Theatre's upcoming show can sit back and enjoy the ride
as characters attempt to liven their mundane work routine.

Glide Time will run from May 9 to May 19 at the Shambles Theatre.

Director Anne Potter says the show, by famous New Zealand playwright Roger Hall, is a comedy set in 1976.

The show covers one working day in the 'stores branch' of a department of the New Zealand Public Service, though the day is spread over several weeks.

The audience can join the staff as they liven up their mundane, routine jobs, all while avoiding doing any actual work.

Anne says Glide Time has been popular ever since it was written and first performed by the Circa Theatre in Wellington in 1976.

The show opens on May 9 with a gala evening at 7.30pm which Roger Hall will attend.

There will be a Q&A with Roger afterwards with a light supper, which should be quite fun, Anne says.

She encourages people to go along to the gala evening because Roger is such a well-known playwright.

She says finding out some of Roger's feelings and intentions about the play will be interesting.

"I would really love it if Roger would walk out and say, 'Yes, that's exactly what I meant'."

"That to me is the epitome of what we are doing."

Tickets for the gala evening cost $30.

There will be plenty of moments for laughs in Glide Time. Photo/Shauni James

A Mother's Day special is running for the matinee performance, with tickets costing $15.

Anne says she is looking forward to the show and presenting it to Roger.

"I think we've got some excellent actors who are all very good at what they are doing."

The cast is made up of one woman and six men.

"It's got quite a lot of laughs in it. It's got some reality in it too. People tend to recognise themselves in the characters as they are portrayed.

"There is a sort of serious undertone in there as well."

The Shambles Theatre box office opens on May 2 for Glide Time tickets, and door sales will be available.