Words by Peter Marshall

In 2022, Peter Marshall, a local veterinarian, took part in an amateur theatre director’s course run by Thames Music and Drama.

Like many parents of drama kids, he became involved in the community drama group when his daughter took part in several of their plays. When the director’s course came up, it gave Peter the opportunity to do something new.

Peter’s passions were certainly ignited for writing and directing. Two years ago he put on his first big show, when he wrote and directed the comical farce “The Stinking of the Titanic” A show that followed an inept group of amateur actors from the fictional Hawking Musical Theatre, putting on a play that went terribly wrong. With props failing and falling off the walls, actors getting injured, and personal misdemeanors threatening the whole show,  this led to a hilarious, and very entertaining play that was well received by the Thames audience.

Peter thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and when he was asked if he had thought about doing a sequel, he didn’t hesitate in starting another script. Two years later, “The Lord of the Dings” was born.

“A challenge is good for the soul, scary and daunting, but with the help of like minded people anything is possible. Thames Music and Drama seemed to believe in me, and that in turn, gave me the confidence to believe in myself. So I started writing, one step at a time. With enough hard work, anything is possible.”

This show follows the same collection of bumbling thespians with some new characters thrown in the mix, as they attempt to put on their next show, a remake of a well-known NZ movie. This time, the lovable (and some not so lovable) actors not only need to negotiate their way through their own mishaps, they also need to try and save the theatre from closure from some deceptive and money hungry businesspeople, with sabotage on their minds. Will they be able to save their beloved theatre while also trying to save themselves?

Before becoming a director, Peter didn’t realize just how much time and work went into producing a show and how many hard-working people there are behind the scenes.

“When a successful show closes it’s certainly not just because of the director.” Peter concludes, “All of the crew have contributed. From the tech team, make-up artists, stage crew, front of house, cast and not forgetting all the supporting family and friends, as what we do is all voluntary and we do this because we love it.”

Lord of the Dings opens on 13th November 2026 at Tararu Cultural Centre, Thames. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased from thamesmad.co