Secrets, songs, and stepping into the spotlight: The Old Cold Hearts Club at The Hannah
There’s something mysteriously revealing about a karaoke bar. It’s a place where people step into the spotlight, take the mic, and let something of themselves slip through.
That element of mystery sits at the heart of The Old Cold Hearts Club – the latest original work from Silver Noodle Soup — brought to life by 11 performers, including Callum (he/him), Aurora (she/her), Caitlyn (she/her) and Nick (he/him), who we had the pleasure of interviewing alongside directors Stevie Hancox-Monk (they/them) and Hannah Kelly (she/her).
Together with the rest of the cast and creative team, they have shaped a work that blends mystery, music, and a deeply collaborative creative process into something that feels both playful and profound.
A company built on collaboration
Silver Noodle Soup has grown from humble beginnings into a vibrant, artist-led company grounded in inclusion and creative ownership.
“Silver Noodle Soup is a drama organisation for people with disabilities,” says Nick. “It was founded by Bernie and Tony and Maggie Rose, and Madeline. And I was the one who came up with the name.”
What began as a small group through school-based classes has steadily expanded, evolving into a tight-knit ensemble with a shared voice and creative momentum. That sense of collective ownership is central to how the work is made and explored.
Stories shaped over time
The Old Cold Hearts Club hasn’t emerged overnight. Instead, it’s the result of two years of exploration, improvisation, and character-building.
“We’ve been working on things for the last couple of years, we’ve been creating these stories,” says Callum.
The title itself came from within the ensemble.
“One of our members had a catchphrase, ‘I have been deceived by an old cold heart,’” recalls Stevie. “And it stuck.”
From there, a world began to form. Characters were developed, tested, and reshaped through devising and rehearsal, with narrative threads emerging organically from the people inhabiting them.
“We were playing with all of these different characters and the narrative has come from the characters and from improv and devising,” Stevie explains.
Hannah adds that this process has been one of discovery as much as decision-making — trying things, refining them, and letting go when needed — until what remains feels cohesive, alive, and ready to meet an audience.
A stage that beckons
Set in a karaoke bar, the show draws directly from the actors’ own lived experiences.
“Once a month… we do a karaoke night… and we run that for the community,” says Aurora.
That real-world connection gives the setting an authenticity and a theatricality that’s ripe for exploration. Layered over this is a love of film noir, creating a world where sharpened style meets everyday performance.
The result is a show that lives somewhere between structure and spontaneity.
“It’s impossible not to have those beautiful flashes of improv,” Stevie says, describing a performance style that allows space for individuality while still honouring the work that has been carefully built.
For the directors, that unpredictability is part of the thrill; each performance offers the possibility of something new.
Taking ownership of the stage
One of the most significant shifts with this latest production is what’s happening behind the scenes. For the first time, the performers are taking full ownership of the show in performance, with the directing team stepping back.
“We try and run the show by ourselves,” says Aurora, describing a move towards independence that has been both a challenge, and a milestone.
The directors will still be present, but off-stage, and only when needed.
“This year these guys wanted to run it themselves, which we really love and celebrate,” says Stevie.
It’s a shift that speaks to trust, growth, and a deep belief in the capability of the ensemble — not just as performers, but as artists leading their own work.
What it means to succeed
Ask the cast what success looks like, and the answers are refreshingly grounded and deeply personal.
“For me… focusing on the characters. Eye contact,” says Caitlyn, reflecting on the craft of performance and presence.
Aurora speaks to the discipline behind the scenes. Learning lines, building confidence, and stepping into moments that feel big and sometimes daunting. Especially when her fear of heights is challenged!
Nick keeps it simple: he wants to feel proud. Proud of the work, and proud of his role at the centre of it.
And for Callum, there’s something undeniably joyful in his ambition.
“I want to be a star… the feeling of being a star in the theatre.”
A night where anything can happen
At its core, The Old Cold Hearts Club is a celebration of performance, of process, and of a company that has grown its work from the inside out.
It’s a show shaped by many voices, grounded in real experiences, and brought to life by artists who come alive in front of an audience in ways that can’t quite be scripted.
There will be music. There will be dancing. There will be secrets — some revealed, some left for the audience to piece together.
And, like any good night at a karaoke bar, there will be moments you didn’t see coming. The ones that only happen when people step into the spotlight and make it their own.
The Old Cold Hearts Club – showing at The Hannah April 11–18.
Presented by Silver Noodle Soup, The Old Cold Hearts Club is created and performed by young disabled artists from Te Whanganui-a-Tara. SNS is a Wellington-based charitable trust where disabled people aged approximately 16–35 are fully included in the leadership and direction of all aspects of theatrical and cinematic creativity - from development and production to promotion and performance.
Guided by experienced theatre-makers Stevie Hancox-Monk, Madeline McNamara and Hannah Kelly, the ensemble brings humour, heart, and mystery to the stage in a celebration of inclusive theatre-making. Learn more and get your tickets here.