Nelson actor Matthew Edgar is preparing to say farewell to the region, having been accepted to study musical theatre at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA) in Christchurch next year, but he has one last show to perform before he goes.
“It’s both the end of an era and the start of something new and exciting,” he says.
A prolific actor, singer and dancer, Matthew has performed in more than 500 shows – everything from Smokefreerockquest to pantomime, improv, school productions, youth theatre, music videos, Shakespeare and Nelson Fringe Festival shows – locally, nationally and overseas.
He first started learning musical theatre with SoundStage at age six with teacher and performer Sophie Ricketts, herself a graduate of NASDA.
Since then, he has furthered his knowledge studying singing for seven years with Claire Stanley, dancing with Empire Dance Company, speech with Karen Austin, improvisation with Body in Space, performing Shakespeare with Laura Irish and The Barden Party, and attended a wide range of workshops, summer intensives and courses.
“There’s so much to learn and so many incredibly talented people in Nelson. I feel lucky to have had so many great people teaching me and supporting me,” says Matthew.
He has also won a number of awards along the way including Silver Award at the 2022 South Island Big Sing Cadenza with NayCol Chorale and Best Delivery of Lines at the Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival in 2021.
“I’ve had so many great opportunities and experiences,” he says. “Touring with the Barden Party in America earlier this year, representing New Zealand in the Junior Theatre Celebrations, and performing Grease at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, have been absolute highlights.”
As much as he’s loved the big experiences, he says that he’s loved every show he’s been in.
“I just love performing, but there are so many people involved in a show, not just the actors, and we couldn’t do it without them.”
He says that the last few years during Covid have been hard with so many shows cancelled including ‘Children of the Poor’ in 2020 and ‘Mary Poppins’ in 2021, both of which cancelled within one week of opening.
“It’s pretty gutting when you’ve put your heart and soul into something for months, but I wasn’t alone.”
He’s looking forward to his last show in Nelson, ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)’ at Fairfield House alongside Imogen Vlugter and Myles Smalley. “We’re having so much fun rehearsing – it’s such a hilarious show.”
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) performs at Fairfield House, Nelson Monday 9 January to Friday 13 January 2023 at 6.30pm.
