The deft hands of a veterinary surgeon and scientist are the same hands that have crafted the brilliant costumes for the upcoming St Peter’s Catholic School production of The Jungle Book.
Liam Maano and Eric Jijo Vallooran dressed for their respective roles as monkey and elephant. Photo: supplied
The three performances in mid-July are being directed by Cushla Hounsell, Rachel Hunt and Susie McCreery, with production falling to Liz Sudfeldt. Adding to the enthusiastic performances by the entire school body is the blazing colour and creativity of Nerina Sommerville’s costumes.
The veterinary surgeon and mum to three young boys is earning quite a name for herself as a costumier. This is her fourth production with St Peter’s Catholic School, but she has done the costumes for productions elsewhere, including for The Lion King at St Peter’s School and Cats at Hamilton’s Clarence St Theatre.
The colourfully-clad girls of Rooms 5 and 6 show off their costumes. Photo: supplied
“While our boys are still young, I’ve moved away from full-time veterinary work and I’m teaching vet nursing students at Wintec,” she said. “The costume-making started when I was doing a couple of things for the boys and it’s pretty much just grown from there. I really love it. Preparing the costumes for The Jungle Book has probably taken me about a term.”
Nerina and her husband Greg Sommerville, who is also a vet, were in the news last year when they moved one of Cambridge’s historical homes, Blairgowrie House, to their Roto-o-Rangi lifestyle property.
Some of the performers in The Jungle Book. Photo: Viv Posselt
Producer Liz Sudfeldt said Sommerville ‘outshines herself with her creativity and originality’.
Year 7 and 8 students are filling the lead roles of Mowgli (Aiden Chandrasekera), Baloo (Andi Bondoc), Bagheera (Michaela Wittstock), Shere Khan (Minna Harrop), among others.
Sudfeldt described as ‘enriching’ the opportunity for each student to shine.
“We love watching their skills develop, whether in acting, singing, set design… and watching their confidence grow. As well as the students, we have teachers who have retired who are involved in acting, make-up, graphic design… the talents of the staff have come to the forefront. It’s an incredibly rewarding journey for everyone involved.”
These students taking on the role of three birds are Nella Keoghan, Frenceska Oliveros and Tina Mweretaka. Photo: supplied
