By Dave Goosselink
Capping week is underway in Dunedin, with the all-male Selwyn Ballet celebrating its 83rd year on stage.
It's a long and proud tradition for the college, but the boys are keen to prove they've got plenty of testosterone as well.
Chalk it up to the stress of university studies, but the annual Lindskii Battle's been a feature of capping week for almost 30 years. Cardboard-clad warriors fight to the death, and can only return to the mayhem by being fed a magic elixir made of a bit of juice, bit of vodka, a bit of wine, and a bit of Lift.
The students spend weeks building their kit in preparation for the big battle. It's a war of attrition between the current and former residents of Selwyn College.
"Unfortunately a lot of us are dying," says King Thomas of Heaton, Leader of the Selwynites. "Ambushed, ambushed, we need medics."
The smaller but more experienced ex-Selwyn College Army won the day, leaving soldiers littering the battlefield.
"It was a hard and long-fought war," says Jimmy Tait of Jamieson, Leader of the Exies. "I don't think we made it back into the castle, I think we're still banished, the first years weren't too bad this year."
The walking wounded then picked themselves up for an even older tradition at night, the Selwyn Ballet.
"I'm pretty nervous," says Sam Anastasiou, ballerina. "Think I look a bit strange."
It's the 83rd year the boys of Selwyn have donned tutus, but the girls also get to join in the fun as makeup artists.
"Bright colours so they stand out on stage, and the pink cheeks just make them look more feminine," says Amelia Kinnaird.
And the boys reckon the pampering's one of the best bits of the whole experience.
"This and hopefully the crowd's faces, that will be quite interesting to see," says ballerina Justin Strik.
Months of practice comes down to five minutes on stage, in the annual capping show. But the guys can't pack away the tutus and eyeshadow just yet - the show continues until next weekend.
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