Kaitangata Twitch

Meredith Gallagher
I see I am middling tall, middling thin, middling coloured.  Can this really be me?
So definitely not an enchantress.
But I know that middling girls secretly believe themselves to be remarkable.

Te Waimarie Kessell stars as Meredith.  The now 13 year old actress’ credits also include Power Rangers; Dino Thunder and BBC TV’s The Man Who Lost His Head as well as local television drama and commercials.  She found the character of Meredith “interesting.  She’s a really deep-thinking girl, very tough who doesn’t give up.  She’s always sharp and trying to find the best possible way to fix something.”

Lee Kaa

I’m old.  The island needs a new keeper.
I’m thinking, maybe he’s picked you.

George Henare plays Lee Kaa, whom he describes as “a tormented soul.  I’m the older force from another time: The guardian of the island of Kaitangata.”  One of New Zealand’s most prolific and highly acclaimed actors, Henare’s greatest love is the stage “because you’re the boss.  It’s great to be able to manipulate the audience.”   He has been honoured for his Outstanding Contribution to Māori Theatre and received an OBE for his Services to Theatre.  Henare has also appeared in a variety of television series and feature films from Once Were Warriors to Yvonne Mackay’s children’s drama The Silent One.  He sandwiched his role in Kaitangata Twitch between two theatrical productions; La Cage Aux Folles and Who Wants to be 100? 

Carey Gallagher

Somehow everything I wanted was waiting for me at home all the time, right here in the bay. It was just so beautiful - not like that touristy picture on the District Plan, but beautiful in some other way... a secret way, just as if it were being beautiful especially for me.

Charles Mesure stars as Meredith’s father, Carey, whom he describes as “a fiercely active environmentalist and conservationist.  He’s a lovable dufus in a way.  He has a great strength but also a dorky side, and a very loving side.  He would chew off his right arm if he thought it would protect all his kids and family.  So it was lovely to play that kind of character.”  Mesure began his career in New Zealand television in City Life and all four series of Street Legal.  He has since appeared in many US dramas such as Bones, Without a Trace, Cold Case, Crossing Jordan, and some shot in New Zealand - the features Boogey Man and The Water Giant, starring Bruce Greenwood.  Television credits include Super Fire; Xena; Hercules and more recently, Outrageous Fortune and This is Not My Life. “I think Kaitangata Twitch is very much about - this is not just land we live on, it’s land that has spirit and history and magic.”

Miriama Smith (Grace Gallagher).  “Grace has this family unit that she wants to be settled and happy, but then these external factors come along,” says Miriama Smith.  “The Cardwell character comes along and makes her start thinking about ‘what if…’   He lights a fire in a few bellies and affects not only the mix within the community but also the mix within the family.”  Smith is a professional in many styles of the entertainment industry, recently receiving a nomination for Best Actress in the feature film We’re Here to Help, presenting Maori Television’s acclaimed 2009 Waitangi Day special and acting as a Panel Judge in New Zealand’s Got Talent.  Additional feature film credits include Spooked, directed by Geoff Murphy, starring Cliff Curtis; Toy Love, directed by Harry Sinclair; the US independent production Other Side of Heaven and the telefeature Double Exposure.

Blair Strang (Sebastian Cardwell).   “I have to say, of the many roles that I’ve played, this has been possibly the most fun.  I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this character,” says Strang of Sebastian Cardwell.  “I didn’t have to prepare, I just had to be myself.  Which is kind of scary!  Strang is best known to NZ audiences for his role as Rangi in Shortland Street, earning him a Best Supporting Actor nomination.   He has also appeared in the international telefeatures Deceit; Maiden Voyage and the voice of monster Borka in Power Rangers.  Additional television credits include Go Girls; Orange Roughies; the mini-series Doves of War; Interrogation; So you Wannabe a Popstar; Spin Doctors and Mataku.  More recently Strang has been touring in the theatrical production Whero’s New Net a NZ play based on Witi Ihimaera’s (Whale Rider) short stories.

Kerry-Lee Dewing (Kate Gallagher).   “In many ways Kate’s quite similar to me,” says Dewing.  “She’s quite stubborn.  If there’s something that she’s passionate about (in this case saving the Bay) then that’s what she’s gonna do.  That’s sort of the same for me – nothing’s gonna stop me.”  Prior to Kaitangata TwitchDewing appeared as Lavina in the Bollywood production Love has No Language.   The stunning twenty year old model turned actress has also featured in many advertising campaigns from the age of 3, most recently in commercials for McDonalds; KFC and Sunsense Sunscreen.  “She’s very fresh with a wonderful quality about her,” says the director.  “I worried about how she’d cope with the Maori language in the role, but she’s really got an ear for it.  It was amazing how well she did.   She’s almost too good, so every now and then we’d have to get her to ease off a bit.”

James Davies (Nick).  “Nick is just a normal, quite confident kind of guy,” says Davies.  “He’s very onto it.  He’s left school and is learning Media Studies at University.  He’s always had a bit of a thing for Kate, but because Kate is very focused on what she wants, saving the Bay and things like that, she doesn’t actually notice.”   Davies is a rising star in the screen industry.  He has previously featured in a guest role in ABC TV’s Legend of the Seeker, directed by Mark Beesley and the short film On The Run.  James and Kerry-Lee were dance partners prior to Kaitangata Twitch.  “They had this physicality that meant they weren’t afraid of each others bodies,” says the director.   “So they’re very convincing together and a very handsome couple.” 

Cejay Pickett (Rufus Gallagher). “Rufus is just a goofball,” says Cejay.  “He’s really energetic and he says what he thinks.”  At just 11 years old, Cejay Pickett was selected from nationwide auditions for his role in Kaitangata Twitch.  “Cejay is a natural,” says the director.  “He is an extraordinary young man who just seemed to be able to capture young Rufus effortlessly.  He has all the characteristics Rufus required:  He’s cheeky and quick-witted and merciless in the way he stirs up the family!”  Cejay’s previous acting experience includes a TV commercial for McDonald’s as the voice of Lightening McQueen in a promotion for the movie Cars.   He has also danced for the Australian Ballet company in the contemporary production of Sleeping Beauty in which he played ‘a big fat rat’.  While at primary school he played the Tinman in The Wizard of Oz.

Francis Dale (Alan). “Rufus has these really cool games but Alan makes them even better somehow,” says Francis Dale of his role in Kaitangata Twitch.  The nine year old had some previous acting experience, including the long-running New Zealand serial Shortland Street; the Auckland Theatre Company’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and as Tanner in ABC TV’s Legend of the Seeker.  Television commercials include Greggs; AMP; Sun Hung Tai; Chef Boyardee and Travellers Insurance.  “Francis auditioned with Cejay and they were like chalk and cheese but the perfect combination,” recalls the director.  “Alan’s from a more well-to-do family and Francis had the ability to speak with a rather posh little voice.  He also has an extraordinary imagination.  He and Cejay ad-libbed in quite a few scenes in the series.” 

Eliza Mackay (Shelly).  “Shelly is a thirteen year old girl from the 1950s who mysteriously disappeared on her birthday,” explains Eliza Mackay. “She’s appearing to Meredith to help her discover what really happened to her; what the island’s doing and why.”  It was Mackay’s first acting experience but her ‘aunt Yvonne’ had noticed a certain quality in some photographs where she looked older than her years.  “Shelly doesn’t speak but she has to be of the 50s, extraordinarily ethereal and must use her eyes and her persona,” explains the director who auditioned her with casting agent Christina Asher.   “Christina’s a very shrewd caster of young talent and she just went – well there’s Shelly.”