DOMINION'S STANDARD

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1937, Page 20

DOMINION'S STANDARD

FAIRLY WELL ADVANCED.

AMATEUR THEATRICALS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday. After a comprehensive tour of Victoria, during which he judged at various festivals, and lectured on speech-train-ing and New Zealand poetry and drama Mr. Walter Ruseell Wood, of Dunedin' returned to-day by the Wanganella. Mr. Russell Wood's visit to Australia was made under the auspices of the Music Teachers' Association of Victoria. The principal aims of the association were to stimulate the appreciation of the beet in music and dramatic art, and to raiee the prestige of the artistic professions. Mr. Russell Wood said that there were 500 drama clubs in and around Melbourne.

Referring to group recitations and verse speaking choirs, he said that, compared with the Australian amateur theatre, the movement in New Zealand was fairly well advanced. In Australian cities producers were easier to find, scenery and the most difficult and elaborate costumes were to be obtained, and excellent lighting facilities were' available, but in the individual and team work of casts interpreting plays many New Zealand productions were equal to what he had seen in Australia j