35 years of maritime magic
When magician Nigel Kennedy performs his show on Interislander, he calls on members of his young audience.
He says it’s a special moment for the child, often shy, but proud and beaming, coming up to the front to be the magician’s assistant. It’s exciting for the parents too, who take videos and photos of their child’s moment in the spotlight.
Last summer, one of those parents came up to him after the show and shared two similar photos with him. One, of his daughter on stage moments before, the other of himself as a child being the magician’s assistant. “His mother had just sent him the photo of us on the Arahura. It was a touching moment – going through the generations."
This year marks Nigel’s 35th summer of entertaining families on Interislander and he feels privileged to be part of people’s holiday history. “A lot of families are regular travellers over the holidays, visiting family north to south or the other way round. The kids grow up and bring their own kids; they are the
happy moments and happy memories.”
Nigel’s audience ranges from toddlers to teens, and of course all the parents and grandparents around the perimeter.
“I always make sure there is something for everyone. I add some basic comedy – some
of it goes over the kids’ heads because it’s something more generational that the adults will understand, and I will use a current song or favourite of the kids that they can relate to.
“Adults often enjoy it more than they expect. On Kaitaki there are often just as many adults as kids watching the show, as it’s on the way to the café and they stop and end up watching, chuckling, participating and enjoying the interaction.”
Nigel performs a different show in each direction, so return travellers don’t see the same show twice. And although he makes sure his shows are entertaining for the adults, it’s the kids who are at the centre.
“The reaction of the kids is big, lots of laughter. It’s the highlight of their holiday.”
Nigel makes sure the assistants he brings up are also different ages – he even picks on the teens, who might act like they’re too cool and too old, but grin as much as the younger kids.
“It makes their day. Mates give them a hard time, but they’re a star of the show and quite happy.
“There are lots of international travellers, and sometimes English is not their first language, so a parent will come up and translate for their child which is lovely.”
After three-and-a-half decades of performing, he’s also got to know the Interislander crews
pretty well. “A lot of them I class as friends. There are a couple there now that were there when I started; it’s nice to reminisce about the old days. Many of them are retiring though.”
But not Nigel.
As always, you can catch Nigel on the 8:45 am sailing from Wellington to Picton, and on the 2.15 pm return over the summer holidays.