Long Bay College’s Senior Drama Company wowed audiences with their production of Heavenly Bodies. A clever and heartfelt modern love story that blends Greek mythology with Elizabethan theatre, all set right here in Aotearoa.
At the heart of the story are the three immortal Fates, who, after centuries of managing the lives of billions, realise they’ve forgotten how to have fun. In a bid to recapture their spark, they meddle in the lives of two unsuspecting teenagers and with the roll of a dice, set a chaotic and unbalanced love story into motion.
What follows is the whimsical tale of Hugo James, a Kiwi teen who falls for the bold and mysterious Verona di Lorento. Packed with familiar New Zealand love songs, surprising twists, and the kind of obstacles only the gods could dream up, Heavenly Bodies explored love, fate, and what it really means to be human — with a whole lot of humour along the way.
Performed by our Year 12–13 Senior Drama Company, this production was a celebration of student creativity, teamwork and bold storytelling. From standout acting to clever staging choices, it was clear the cast and crew poured their hearts into every moment.
One of the most special highlights came when the playwright (Kerry Lynch) attended the show and sent through a glowing message of congratulations:
“I’m really honoured you chose to stage this play. Your interpretation was a revelation. I loved the comedic, glossy white costumes for the Fates and your take on the gods as a pearly gate’s setup. The acting style — a bit anarchic, edgy, exaggerated — worked brilliantly to bring out the humour. I’m still laughing at the line from Roberto warning Hugo he might be leaving ‘in a box’ — absolute gold!”
The Fates were called “brilliant actors, singers and stand-up comedians — true triple threats.” The relationship between Hugo and Lawrence was also praised as genuine and heartfelt, and Nonna was singled out as showing real promise on stage.
The playwright also made a point to acknowledge the hard work behind the scenes:
“I’ve done so many shows without a Producer, so I want to shout out the efforts of your team — especially Elena. The world definitely needs more Producers!”
With such a strong cast and creative team, it’s no surprise that the buzz around the show grew quickly. The playwright even remarked that, had the season been extended, word of mouth would’ve filled the Perkins Auditorium for many more nights.
To everyone involved in Heavenly Bodies — from cast and crew to production and support — congratulations on a show to be proud of. It was warm, funny, original, and deeply human.
We’re still buzzing, and proud of this production!
