Mega-Nunsense Premiere Made Sense for All-Girl School

Finding a musical for an all girls’ school can be a big challenge.

The Performing Arts staff at Diocesan School for Girls in Auckland wanted great dramatic and musical opportunities, and it had to be engaging for the cast and audiences. We saw a local music theatre group’s production of Nunsense, and thought it could be the show for our senior students, though the five person cast was a limitation.

Further research with Dominie revealed a mega-musical version of Nunsense was now available.
With our small hall and limited staging capability the show was perfect, with no set changes and small band (piano synthesiser, reeds and percussion). The Director and Choreographer quickly realised the possibilities for both physical and dramatic comedy, and our students immediately engaged with their roles as singing and dancing nuns.

Opening night saw a near capacity house, and the following day the phones went wild. The remaining season sold out virtually instantly.

Our audiences really enjoyed the sophisticated scripting which at one level could be enjoyed by younger children, and at the same time taking adults on a wild and sometimes slightly risquÈ ride. The Reverend Mother’s Rush scene and Sister Mary Amnesia’s duet with her own nun-puppet brought the house down.
Full of convent humour and out-there eccentric characters, this show is still being talked about as the best we have ever produced

David Gordon
Musical Director and Producer, Nunsense
Performing Arts Director