17/04/2026
At Lakes Performing Arts Centre, we’re incredibly proud of the community that comes together to make each show possible — on stage and behind the scenes.
One of our backstage parents has shared a reflection on their family’s journey. It captures the heart, humour, and connection that make this such a special place. Thank you to everyone — our creative team, volunteers, and families — who make the magic happen. Come join our LPAC family to make sure you’re on the next journey.
The Performing Arts Family
Coming from a background centred on sports teams and growth through sport, I never really had a foot in the performing arts world. I understood scoreboards, muddy fields, and early morning starts — not jazz hands, quick changes, and vocal warm-ups. But every time I got a glimpse into this world, I found myself more and more blown away by the talent and ability at a local level.
As a family, we went to watch Moana, and seeing such young local performers sing with confidence and bring a show to life, with what looked like professionally made props and costumes, we were hooked. It felt like something special. We knew our son was going to join Lakes Performing Arts Centre to see what it was all about.
Being taught by Te Mihi Potae, someone we’d known as a kid who had grown into an incredible teacher, mentor, and role model, alongside Oscar Burns, who had played the crab in Moana (our boys’ favourite), we quickly saw that this was an environment our son thrived in. An ability to easily remember lines, the encouragement from others, and the genuinely positive culture made it clear this was something he loved.
Since then, we’ve been part of Cats, Cinderella: A Modern Girl, The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition, Jack and the Beanstalk (Modified), and most recently SpongeBob the Musical Youth Edition.
What continues to amaze me is how a group of 60–70 kids, many of whom don’t know each other at the start, can come together over a few months and create something so polished. Incredible props, awesome costumes, and a real desire to give every child their moment in the spotlight.
But what I didn’t expect, and what has probably had the biggest impact, is the wider group of kids you get to know along the way. Kids you didn’t know before suddenly become part of your world. You see the quiet ones find their voice, the nervous ones grow in confidence, and personalities come alive. There are little jokes, side conversations, and moments of chaos and connection that you don’t realise you’ll miss, until the show ends and they’re gone.
Along the way, I found my place in it all too. I’ve become the backstage dad, part morale booster, part snack distributor, unofficial help desk, and full-time dad joke specialist. If there’s a moment of silence, I’ll fill it (usually with a terrible pun) If something needs sharing, I’m probably posting it.
My self-appointed role is simple: keep questions answered, keep attitudes positive, and keep the chaos just organised enough that everyone else can focus on making the magic happen. I like to think I’m helping… although there’s a strong chance I’m just the guy everyone tolerates because I bring food.
That’s what makes it feel like a family.
And that family starts at the top, with the unwavering commitment from Natasha and Dennis Benfell, supported by a strong core of friends, colleagues, and parents who somehow turn organised chaos into something incredible.
There’s stress. There are nerves. There’s worry. But above all, there’s this incredible sense of community that builds behind the scenes. Hours of rehearsals, prop-making, and the commitment from families during show season create a world that feels completely separate from everyday life. You live and breathe the show. You support those who are struggling, laugh through the tough moments, and watch genuine bonds form between a cast that started out as strangers.
You see confidence grow. You see friendships form. You see kids become something more than they were when they started.
And then… it ends.
The post-show blues hit, something you don’t really understand until you’ve experienced it. After all the energy, excitement, and emotion, there’s a quiet that feels strange. It’s bittersweet, the kind of feeling you only get because you were part of something truly special.
For now, we return to life as we know it… until the next journey begins.
