Whanganui's Cullinane College students shine in Remain In Light performance fundraiser for school charity ball

Cullinane College performers from left to right: Brianna Aldridge, Ronan Shaw and Jamie O'Hagan. Photo / Supplied

How would you react if you woke up and there was no light?

The sun didn't rise, power wasn't working and you're surrounded by darkness.

That is what Cullinane College senior drama students explored when they performed Remain In Light in the school's wharenui last week.

Not to be confused with the Talking Heads album of the same name from 1980, Remain In Light is a play written by New Zealand playwright Stephen Sinclair.

Drama teacher Sophie Hart chose to produce it with her students because she loves working on New Zealand creations.

"It's a story about survival and how people cope without this commodity that we have in our world," Hart said.

"The writer talks about the fact that we are running out of supplies in our world, like oil for example and he thought 'what would happen if we ran out of light'?"

It was the first play performed in the school's wharenui that opened at the start of the year and it was a full house - between 70 and 80 people turned out to view it.

"Some of these students had never performed in front of a crowd before, so it was fantastic to see them take it in their stride and just go for it," Hart said.

"I'm really proud of everyone and the effort that they put in."

In the play, a gang called the ferals become scavengers searching for food, water and anything else they can get their hands on.

Things take a dark turn when two of the lead characters, Dave and Carlotta, discover the last of the world's remaining light in a beaker and exploit it.

The event was a fundraiser for Cullinane's charity ball which is being held on Friday, July 27 and a portion of the funds raised will be donated to the Sisters of St Joseph in Peru.