Martha Newland.
Martha Newland has capped off a big year with an original performance as the dwarf planet Pluto at Hamilton’s The Meteor.
The first year Wintec Performing Arts student from Te Awamutu was taking part in the Creative Showcase Exhibition, a celebration of students’ work.
The News reported in July 2023 the then Te Awamutu College student was among a group of seven students preparing to take part in the inaugural National Youth Theatre performance in Hamilton.
This time last year, though, was a different story – Newland learned several courses in Wintec’s School of Media Arts, including her one, was disappearing.
“I remember feeling a bit helpless. By that time applications and auditions for similar programmes had all closed so I knew that if this didn’t work out, I did not have many other options up to my sleeve.”
Wintec reversed the decision following a consultation period and a year later Newland says she has learned a lot honing her craft.
“I just feel so fortunate knowing that I’m in such good hands with my tutors.”
She said the best part of her year was building bonds with her peers.
“It always feels like such a privilege to be surrounded by so much talent lately – to call these people my friends is so special.”
Newland’s most challenging yet rewarding part of the year was the showcase as it was the most difficult material she had worked with.
For her theatre cabaret character, she devised a piece about how planet Pluto reacted losing its planetary status and being reclassified as a dwarf planet.
“Pluto was such a fun character to personify and play with. Discovering her arc as a character, finding her quirks and flaws, and being to amplify this through storytelling with a bit of comedy was a blast.”
Now the semester has finished, Newland has a few auditions coming up and is looking forward to being part of the theatre scene in Hamilton.
“We are spoiled with talent here in the Waikato, but I would love to be in a production with some of my fellow Wintec students.”
Newland dreams of performing in well known plays.
“I absolutely love Chicago, performing in Roxie would be a dream. But so would Eurydice in Hadestown or even Daisy in The Great Gatsby.”
- Ronella Felizardo is a Wintec journalism student.
Playing Pluto – Martha Newland. Photo: Geoff Ridder
