What a phenomenal season it was for Kaiapoi High School’s 2026 production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods!
Across three sold-out-caliber evening shows and two bustling matinees—playing to roughly 300 primary school students and 150 of our own Year 9 and 10s—our cast and crew brought absolute magic to the stage, performing to 725 ticketed audience members. The community buzz was immediate, earning us a glowing feature review from Backstage Reviews and overwhelming 5-star praise from delighted parents, staff, and local theatre lovers. Into the Woods was such a full-on production, with everyone each participating individually to create an immersive, magical, and captivating show.
Bringing a show of this scale to life was a massive undertaking, and every single person involved brought their absolute best. Reviewer Phoebe Biddle gushed about the performance, saying, “There are some absolutely stellar actors and singers in the ensemble, some rising stars that I truly hope continue to pursue theatre.” She loved the puppeted cow, Milky White, created by Ruby Cowley and Celia Breen, and beautifully brought to life by Sophia Clarke. “Through both the adorable and personable look of the cow and the way in which Sophia moved it, my eyes were drawn to that damn cow every time it was on stage!” Phoebe summarised her review by saying, “For such young people to do something so magnificent is no mean feat. I really truly commend the efforts of everyone…”.
Tackling Stephen Sondheim’s complex, fast-paced score and intricate harmonies is no small feat, but our performers handled it with pure professionalism and electric energy. Viewers were blown away by Cinderella’s breathtaking vocal performances, as well as the hilarious, bold stage presence of the Baker and his wife, Rapunzel’s and Cinderella’s Princes, the Wolf, and Granny. Standout vocal work by Liefke Stakenburg and Evangeline Arthur had the audience completely hooked. Our wonderful ensemble looked and sounded great as they multi-tasked well on stage.
A show only runs this smoothly when the crew is top-tier. Over 80 students poured their hearts into every detail—from lighting, sound, and mic technique to seamless stage management, detailed set painting, prop crafting, and stunning hair, makeup, and costumes. Their backstage precision gave the production its polished, professional feel. A huge, special shout-out to our three wonderful stage managers who worked ridiculously long hours for this show: Braedyn McHugh, Bianca Jarden, and Maia van Arendonk.
This production was a true labour of love. Our dedicated staff poured over 900 hours of mahi into a year of planning, auditions, and rehearsals, working alongside external director, Julia Guthrey, and musical director, Jessie Rosewarne, to help our students shine. We thank them for bringing this beautiful, hilarious and impressive show to life.
Beyond the applause, the true triumph was seeing our students grow. Whether they were seasoned performers or stepping onto a stage for the first time, everyone walked away with life skills that go far past the theatre—learning resilience, dynamic problem-solving, deep teamwork, and how to stay grounded when things don’t go strictly to plan. Emelia Coster was so impressed with people’s upskilling, saying, “This production gave everyone life skills. Whether they had acting, singing, and dancing experience before or had never even set foot on a stage, they all learned things that they will use continually throughout their everyday, adult lives”.
We would like to extend a huge, heartfelt thank you to our generous sponsors, our wonderful adult volunteers, and the parents and community members who came out to support Kaiapoi High School Arts. You helped make this an unforgettable experience for our young artists! The Performing Arts scene is alive and well at Kaiapoi High School.
