THE THEATRE IN NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25515, 8 June 1948, Page 6

THE THEATRE IN NEW ZEALAND

NEED FOR A STATE ORGANISATION

OPINION OF MR G. SWAN Though the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) had given an undertaking that a national theatre would be established in New Zealand, there was no evidence so far of the Government’s intention, said the president of the New Zealand Drama Council <Mr George Swan) in an interview in Timaru. Though he hoped that an early decision would be reached, he expected that the Government would first call a conference of interested parties, he said. Proposals for the national theatre had been submitted by the New Zealand Drama Council and Auckland Drama Council, said Mr Swan. The Auckland Council held that the national theatre was. in fact, the amateur movement, and that, from the Government’s point of view, should take the form of encouragement of existing amateurs. The New Zealand Council held that the amateur theatre was one thing, and the professional theatre another —that the amateur theatre was more properly to be considered as a tributary to a main stream. The professional theatre could never be satisfactorily replaced by the amateur because it was a full-time job like any other occupation. The New Zealand council envisaged the appointment of a director who would probably have to be obtained from overseas, while players would be drawn from the ranks of existing amateurs who would make the theatre their career. In the past the most talented young players had had to go oversea. If there were a professional theatre they would be retained in New. Zealand. Educational Value of Theatre “There is no doubt that the theatre, as an influence in educational matters, is something real.’’ said Mr Swan. “It is something a great deal more than a pastime, having social and educational functions. We have already approached the newly-reformed National Council of Adult Education to secure a seat on it so that drama may have a voice in the whole of the council’s affairs, for it has been found abroad that by far the best method of extending education to adults is through the theatre. A special sub-committee of the National Council of Adult Education is now investigating the whole question of the role of the theatre as it relates to adult education,” he said.

Among other things the drama council hoped that it would be afforded the means of attaching to itself a drama adviser on a full-time basis whose services would be available to all its member-organisations, numbering about 26, from Auckland to Invercargil. This drama adviser would hold an appointment similar to appointments made recently in the United Kingdom where the educational authorities had recognised the significance of the theatre as an educator by appointing advisers, not only in the provincial cities, but even in the counties.

“We consider that New Zealand is very much behind the times in giving official recognition to the valuable role that the theatre can play,” said Mr Swan. “It not only brings a wide section of the community into a common interest, but it provides a means of self-expression for the participants, and, particularly in the case of the better plays, it gives the audience a greater standard of appreciation and a wider knowledge of the a'jtitude of our own kith and kin and other nationalities.” The New Zealand Drama Council had been recognised as a body cooperating with the UNESCO commission in New Zealand and “fitted in neatly” with ‘the International Theatre Institute recently instigated by Mr J. B. Priestley. Lack of Producers Skilled producers were the greatest single lack in New Zealand, said Mr Swan, referring to the school of stage production and stage management which will open in Timaru to-day. Its object was to train as rapidly as possible as many people as possible in the art of stage management and stage production. While there was an organisation in New Zealand for the training of actors, said Mr Swan, a national theatre would not only be “a flesh and blood thing,” but its primary concern would be to set up a school of dramatic art.

That his council was representative of about 15,000 members showed that a lively interest was being taken in drama, he said. This interest would be increased if the average standard of achievertent -was increased. The standard of drama in some parts of New Zealand already compared more than favourably with other countries, and’ near perfection had been reached in some places, he said.