Shortland Street x KAM Talent
Ah! An absolute Kiwi classic - Shortland Street! New Zealand's longest running serial drama. Did you know, although Shortland Street has been around since 1992, we have been working on this show ever since KAM started in 1999 - sending multiple talent to set every single weekday! Now that's a lot of talent!
For most Kiwi households, Shortland Street is one of those shows that bring the whole family together for 30 minutes of non stop drama, excitement and even comedy each night (well Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday now). This show really has it all!
Whether you are interested in hospital themed shows or not, Shortland Street really provides the storylines, from scandalous affairs to family drama and let's not even get started on their incredible cliffhangers at the end of each year! You never really know what you're going to get each episode - so, believe me, it is super easy to get hooked!
Our talent have had the privilege of playing doctors, nurses, orderlies, patients, visitors, paramedics and so much more over the 30+ years! Shortland Street has been the foundation for so many successful actors, from Karl Urban and Temuera Morrison to KJ Apa and Martin Henderson! So many familiar names who all started their Hollywood careers from Ferndale!
As we have worked with this production for so long, I thought it would be fun to hear from some of our Shorty regulars themselves and how much they enjoy being on set! Check out below what they had to say;
Kelly Fisher:
My first role was in December 2016, it was actually my first job with KAM! I love meeting new extras and have made some awesome friends with the Shorty extras. The whole cast and crew are so awesome and welcoming! Especially the hardworking AD's! One of my favourite scenes so far in my time on Shortland Street would be filming a surgery scene as part of the 2024 cliffhanger! Can't wait to get back on set - it feels like another home to me!
Hugh Sweeney:
'I first appeared as a Pharmaceutical Salesman in 2011 with one word of dialogue "Great". Since then, I have been lucky enough to be on set every two or three weeks. The greatest joy is the camaraderie between the main cast members and extras, they are all like second family. All scenes have been enjoyable, none particularly stand out, however, getting a needle out of my heart when my character, Mr Knowles, was in surgery has to be the highlight!
Pip Prentice:
'It has been a huge privilege for me to have been working on the production of Shortland Street for the last 6 years. I have been lucky to have had numerous roles on Shortland Street over the last six years, “Marty’s Cougar”, Receptionist, Reporter, Doctor, Patient Visitor, Bar Patron to name a few, but my main role has been a nurse and I even have an official name now “Nurse Sandy”. I love working with the cast and crew, especially the directors who have been so lovely and supportive. Most importantly, I feel very grateful to be working with all the wonderful extra’s over the years. I have met some amazing people and feel very grateful that I can now call some of them true friends. I have been in so many memorable scenes over the years on Shortland Street, it’s hard to pick a favourite, but I do love the excitement of the Emergency Department as I get to pretend to be a real nurse handling fake blood and pretend vomit.
Graeme Bell:
'I first did Shortland Street back in 2023. I really enjoy working as an extra. The main actors make you feel very welcome. I can't talk about my favourite scene yet as it hasn't aired. I'll just say it was lots of fun ad I had a couple of lines while working with two of my favourite actors on the show'
Catherine Cooke:
I started as an extra in 1992 and have continuously worked on the programme, mainly as a nurse but also more latterly in other featured extra and extra roles. I like the fast paced turnaround and find the cast and crew friendly. My favourite scene is when Nick Harrison bought a boat for Waverly from the internet. Nick started showing it off to staff at the hospital as it arrived, until a look at the other side of the boat revealed a large part of it was missing!! Not such a good buy! Such a fun scene!
If these testimonies make you want to apply for any roles on Shortland Street, email Jess (team@kamtalent.com) - she is always looking for keen, reliable talent to send to set!
