Mitchell Farr has grown up with the Big Little Theatre Company, and is now preparing for its latest show. Photo Susan SandysBig Little Theatre Company long-time members Mitchell Farr and Elise Heffernan are among actors preparing for the powerful musical Children of Eden opening on Friday.

The pair, aged 16 and 15 respectively, have both been with the company for more than half their young lives – nine years each – and have developed into strong performers along the way.

In the first part of the show, Mitchell will play Cain in Children of Eden, an angry young man who feels he and his family were unjustly banished to the wilderness. He resembles his mother, Eve, to be played by Elise, who was banished forever from the Garden of Eden, because she too wanted to ask questions of life and had a desire for knowledge.

The show’s script is based on the Book of Genesis and depicts human struggle as the characters are torn between life choices.

In the second half of the show, Mitchell will play Noah, while Elise will play Yonah, a daughter of Cain.

Big Little director Jackie Heffernan said Children of Eden, which premiered in the West End in London in 1991, provided a challenge and created opportunities for in-depth acting and singing.

And it was a challenge her young actors, including Mitchell and Elise, were rising to.

Their acting background encompassed appearing in the company’s earliest shows and Mitchell was the first child the company ever “flew”, appearing from the rafters as Puck in a Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The pair had acted together in examination drama, attaining Exhibition Awards from Trinity College London two years in a row, for achieving the highest mark internationally.

Both had been part of the ensemble which took King Lear to Court Theatre as part of the company’s winning Sheila Winn Shakespeare in Schools Festival.

Additionally, Mitchell had been awarded a Best Actor award by Theatre New Zealand in last year’s Theatre Fest. “Who knows what lies in store for them in the future.

“They are both extremely humble, hugely rewarding to work with, and it has been a privilege for me to have been a part of their amazing journey so far,” Heffernan said.

Children of Eden is directed by Bryan Aitken and musically directed by Keeneth Love, both of Christchurch, and will stage at the Ashburton Trust Event Centre July 14 to 16.

By Susan Sandys - © The Ashburton Guardian - 11 July 2017