Te Anau playwright, Brian Johnston is exploring opportunities to secure funding for a production of his latest play "The way of the world". 

The play, featuring characters inspired by Fiordland fauna was written with school-age audiences in mind. Its first public reading last month at the Department of Conservation auditorium, by students of Te Anau School, Mararoa School and Fiordland College was well received.

Originally from Scotland, Mr Johnston has lived in New Zealand for 13 years, the last two of which in Te Anau. He brings to Fiordland 30 years of experience as a theatre practitioner, including 5 years as a teacher of dance and drama at the HM Prison Halloway.

He has written two plays before coming to Te Anau - Good old bad old days (2008) and Come out, come out, wherever you are (2011). However The way of the world is his first play written specifically for children and to be performed by children.

Mr Johnston said that he was inspired by a children's novel by Scottish novelist Kenneth Grahame The wind in the willows. He was encouraged by the “overwhelmingly positive and supportive feedback” he received after the reading, and is hoping to organise a full production of his play next year.