Waiata Theatre Productions is a small, grass-roots theatre group bringing big Broadway style to the small stage.

Behind the Brand showcases our innovators, entrepreneurs, small and large business owners, managers, leaders. 

It’s like a backstage pass into the real person behind the success. What makes them tick, what makes them successful. A peek at some of Central Otago’s smartest and most interesting people.

Learn their secrets, get hot tips from those with experience, and discover why you should support their venture.

Waiata Theatre Productions is a small grass-roots theatre group based in Alexandra. You may know them, they’re the artists that brought you The Mikado and Jesus Christ Superstar.

We’d like to introduce you to the two characters behind the productions.

Originally from South Africa, Bruce Potter moved first to Auckland and large theatre productions, then brought his family to Central Otago. 

He is an author, artist, musician, composer, entertainer. He also holds a world record in weightlifting, and is a former NZ powerlifting champion with a personal bench press of 245kg. 

He also has a black belt, 3rd Dan, in Shotokan karate and runs his own dojo in Alexandra and is the current NZ Kumite champion.

“I’m an artist, creative, and really love performing musical theatre.”

He’s also a husband, father – and an experienced and talented theatre performer with a variety of stand-out performances in high profile musicals under his belt, a director and producer.

Duncan Anderson is a dental surgeon, member of both the NZ and American Academies of Cosmetic Dentistry, has sung in choirs, studied almost every aspect of acting and theatre craft, including lighting, makeup, costume and sets.

He has honed his craft in ‘improv theatre’ with the Fortune Theatre in Dunedin and Scared Scriptless, is a highly experienced musical theatre performer and has played a wide range of theatre roles.

“If you’re going to get to know something, you’d better get to know it inside out.”

He’s also a husband, father – and an experienced and talented theatre performer with a variety of stand-out performances in high profile musicals under his belt, a director and producer.

Bruce Potter and Duncan Anderson met over school pick-ups. They hit it off, and became friends.

Bruce Potter is currently playing the role of Jesus in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’.

“I met Bruce when our two daughters were at school together,” says Duncan.

“We chatted about musical theatre and began to do musicals together.

“We performed with the Alexandra Musical Society, the theatrical society in Tapanui.

“It was a bit like, where he goes I go, and where I go he goes.

“We finally got to the point where we said, well, we should do some soirees.”

“So we did.”

Having been involved in so many shows together, the pair discovered a very common thought process had developed between them.

“There was a commonality in how we approach things.

“We both wanted longer seasons because you’re often only just hitting your straps by final night, and we could see how shows develop as time goes on.

“We also wanted more time and opportunity for skill development, and the opportunity to share our skills with others.”

They continually discussed their ideas and agreed neither of them were getting any younger.

“So, we said maybe we should do some stuff that other people aren’t doing, but do it in this niche that we love, which is small theatre performance.”

That’s where everything kicked off. Their first performances together were soirees, and they travelled to different places to perform.

“Then, we put on The Mikado, which we did with a cast of eleven,” Duncan says.

“We based that in the Earnscleugh hall; then later in the year we went on tour.

“We went to the Maniototo, we went to Naseby, we went to Lowburn.”

“It was fantastic,” says Bruce. “It was a fantastic show and a fun way to test the waters.

“We worked out where good halls are, where good sounds are, whether the audience was there, whether travelling would work.

“When we travelled, we’d arrive with all our gear on two trailers, set it up, do the show, pack it all up, and move to the next venue.

“We were very much like old-school troubadours.

“It was great fun but we found with just the two of us doing everything, it was pretty exhausting.”

Duncan Anderson has played a wide range of roles to a wide range of audiences.

It was, however, a great start, and wonderful learning for the pair.

“It was a good show and we knew then we could go for something bigger,” Duncan says.

“Then, when we did Les Miserables together, travelling back and forwards to Tapanui, we ended up forming our plans on those long drives.”

“We actually solved a lot of problems on those Tapanui trips,” Bruce laughed.

Bruce says his favourite show is definitely Les Miserables. He has performed it five times and would love to play it again – if they could secure the rights. 

The pair agreed their second choice would have to be Jesus Christ Superstar – and they were successful in securing the rights to the well-known musical.

“We will eventually get the rights to Les Mis, it will happen,” says Bruce confidently.

“We’ll never give up.”

Forming their own production company was a strategy based on having a clear vision of what they wanted, when they wanted to achieve it by, and how they wanted to perform theatre.

“Some committees work well, others don’t.

“Both of us are the kind of people that are workers – if we want something done, we do it.

“We also have a clear understanding of our niche.

“We knew that between the two of us, we could make things happen, and happen fast.”

Duncan says the next step was to form a company.

“We decided a company was the best structure,” he says.

“We need to make money, but because it’s just us, we only need to make enough money to secure the next set of rights.

“Our main focus could then be offering opportunities to local people looking for theatre experience and helping them to grow their skills ready for the bigger stage.

“We also offer roles based on how well you can sell that role to the audience, not on how you look, your age or other demographic measures.

“There’s a lot of talent around here.”

Bruce and Duncan provided the financial backing themselves, and jumped on in. They made it easy for people to come on board, with fewer full rehearsals for busy people to commit to. 

Instead, they employed simple technology in a practical way, so people could rehearse more in their own time, using phones, tablets or computer.  

They also extended rehearsal periods to allow time for skills to develop.

The result was the exact opposite of burn-out. The cast was healthy and energised, fully ready for opening night and a longer run of shows.

“There are already theatre groups around, but we’d seen a niche and we’d done our homework,” says Bruce.

“We knew that we could fill that niche if we did in in this particular way, and we wouldn’t be stepping on any toes.

“Our niche is musical theatre, small hall,” explains Duncan.

“We believe smaller, intimate performances and more shows gives greater opportunity to performers in our local communities, and greater opportunities for our local audiences to see live theatre.

“What we’re doing benefits the community in many different ways.”

Bruce says performing in Auckland, he was used to doing month-long shows.

“It’s incredible, you gain so much over a whole month, it is just this amazing experience.

“Here, doing smaller shows, it’s not all smoke and mirrors and hi-tech.

“It’s about creativity; it’s producing something extraordinary through hard work and through being creative.

“You don’t need a huge team behind you, you just need the right people around you.

“And that’s what we’ve got – it’s a fantastic team, producing fantastic shows.”

Images Mary Hinsen