Tainui Kuru. Photo suppliedWhen the touring musical Saturday Night Fever hit town this week, it was home-grown talent which took front and centre stage.

The lead role of Tony Manero was played by Tainui Kuru, an Ashburton local who has crafted a successful full time career from the performing arts.

The production has been touring New Zealand for around three weeks, delivering iconic tunes and classic 1970’s storyline at all the main centres in the North and South islands.

The show is often remembered for its disco, yet Kuru said it also deals with some “pretty heavy stuff”.

“It’s set in Brooklyn at the lower end of society … and in a similar political climate to now, so that’s kind of interesting,” he said.

In Ashburton it stopped for one show only on Wednesday night – giving Kuru a quick chance to reacquaint with his old stomping ground before hitting the road again.

The 2009 Ashburton College head boy and NASDA graduate now lives in Auckland and is always on the go when it comes to showbiz.

He’s racked up an impressive repertoire of roles in performances over the past eight years and is a self-confessed “triple threat”– a dancer, a singer and an actor.

But despite having his face feature on posters in green rooms around the country, Kuru said Saturday Night Fever is by far the busiest show he’s starred in yet.

“I’m on stage in every scene. In fact, I think I’m off stage for a maximum of five minutes … there’s some pretty crazy costume changes.”

It’s also mammoth in tour length, with 26 performances in total.

The show’s national tour launched in mid-November and will wrap up at the end of next week in Whangarei, after more than a month on the road.

“It is a long time to be performing,” Kuru said.

“But it’s slightly different each time.

“We just treat every show as brand new.”

And it’s an opportunity to see all his favourite spots around New Zealand.

“I always love going to Oamaru, because I like being in an old theatre and having that history.”

Most enjoyable of all?

Obviously Ashburton.

“It’s the most supportive crowd, with all my family and friends.”

Next on the cards for the successful Tainui is another tour in the new year – this time for a group called Operatunity, delivering a Rat Pack tribute to the greatest artists of the 20th century in a series of daytime concerts.

It’s all go, but the hard work and love of theatre runs in Kuru’s blood.

“I grew up in a family where labour was the norm – working for something was just part of the family,” he said.

“Theatre takes so much hunger and drive – but it’s worth it.”

By Katie Todd © The Ashburton Guardian - 8 December 2017