I am constantly amazed by the creative people in Tauranga.

Particularly in the musical world it is easy to imagine that there are just a small number of dedicated artists beavering away because the few high-profile bands around hog most of the press coverage. But the reality is far more diverse.
Pop into any of the town's studios and –
if you ask nicely – they will play you music from dozens of unknown bands and more besides, whether it be poets recording their work, songs for children, meditation music, or recordings of Maori myths and legends. And that's just the 'official” studios. For every Boatshed or Colourfield there are a dozen home recording set-ups you never hear about.
Earlier this month Pahoia Primary School presented a full-length film at Baycourt; this week artist Dave Roy opens his new exhibition at Mills Reef (do check it out) and also releases his latest album, astonishingly his third this year. These are remarkable acts of creativity and it's happening all over.
I've recently been in touch with Peter Hodge from Oropi. Peter has written a rock musical called Bedlam (A Case of Insomnia) and is now planning to workshop the show in preparation for a critique performance for evaluation. He is currently seeking singers and musicians and I told him I'd spread the word. After all, with Rocky Horror Show creator Richard O'Brien living in Tauranga, we have ample proof that a boy from Downunder can conquer the world of rock musicals.
Peter has a solid background on the Tauranga music scene. He started playing guitar at high school and since then has performed with a diverse range of people including the Bay Big Band back when Darren Smith started it up and Robbie White in the Celtic rock band Shenandoah. He's also been in the pit for a couple of Tauranga Musical Theatre's productions.
It was while playing with Robbie that Peter bought his first 8-track recorder. He has since recorded Jacqui La Mont's first album, Celtic Raven, and Richard Two Bears' Respect, and built a full recording studio which has allowed him many hours of refining his own music. One of his latest projects was to record a song by Alex Heghs, ‘Forever', which you can now find posted on YouTube.
This new musical is not his first venture into the form. Over a period of seven years he put together a rock opera called Cruci Signata (the sign of the cross) based on the first crusade. It is an epic Shakespearian tragedy which suffered only from over ambition – Peter couldn't work out how to organise and perform it with the limited resources available. So he began looking for something he could create that would be smaller in scale and simpler.
Inspiration came while watching an Alan Berliner documentary about insomnia called ‘Wide Awake'. As it screened late one night (the time-slot of all good documentaries) Peter was riveted and couldn't get to bed. From there came the idea of a show about sleep, or lack of it, and the characters folk law has evolved around fables of night time.
And so Bedlam was born.
'My aim is to make Bedlam fun and humorous, laughing at our eccentricities, performed in an over-the-top flamboyant style, and basically create an entertaining and engaging show,” says Peter.
To that end he has assembled characters such as the Bogyman (who taunts and wrestles with the insomniac), Wee Willy Winkie (now considered a peeping tom), Toothfairy (stoned on mercury), Valerie Vallum (seductive tart/dominatrix), and the Dream Lover (the world's greatest lover). Craziness definitely ensues. And – making this rather easier than medieval crusades – the whole performance is played out in a bed.
So now Peter is looking for his singers and musicians. The plan is to workshop the production for three weeks in preparation for a one-hour performance to both evaluate the show and preview it for possible promoters, managers, and critics. He will also video and record it.
If you are a singer, bass player or guitarist this could be a unique opportunity to be in at the start of what could be the future Rocky Horror Show! And it should be a lot of fun. You can ring Peter on (07) 543 1478 or email to 4winds@clear.net.nz.