Auckland for Kids Q&A with Elle Wootton 

 Is the 13-Storey Treehouse play like the book?

There are a lot of similarities. But I would say the main difference is that the people and things in the play are not drawings but actual real people and real things!

What will surprise everybody the most when they see the play?

I think the play will be full of surprises. I still get surprised sometimes too.

Will each performance of the 13-Storey Treehouse be the same?

The performances will mostly be the same, but every performance is different because every audience is different. The people watching are as much a part of the performance as the people on stage are.

What did you dream of being when you grew up?

I dreamt of being many things:  a mermaid, a time-traveling doctor, an archaeologist, an intergalactic space judge… Then I realised I could be all of these things if I was an actor. 

When did you decide to become an actor?

I have thought of myself as an actor since I was about 6 years old and got to play a pirate captain in a school play. But I finally decided to do only acting about 2 years ago.

What do you do when you are not acting?

I love to read, write plays, stories and songs on my ukulele.

What advice would you give to New Zealand kids who want to be an actor?

If acting is something that makes you incredibly happy and you can’t imagine doing anything else get involved in any way you can. Learn about the theatre and the film industry and all the different jobs there are to make the great things you see. Actors are only one part of it all. Making your own work and putting your energy into the thing you love is really important.

Who is your favourite New Zealand actor and why?

This is very hard because most of my friends are amazing actors, but at the moment I have two: Ryan Dulieu and Damien Avery, because they are my wonderful cast mates in 13 Storey Treehouse and they are both so funny, smart and great to work with!