FESTIVAL OF TALENT

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27962, 8 May 1956, Page 6

FESTIVAL OF TALENT

MORE THAN 3500 FOR COMPETITIONS

The forty-fifth annual festival of talent conducted by the Christchurch Competitions Society will be held at Christchurch between May 9 and May 19.

/‘Entries for this year’s competitions are between 3500 and 4000, about the same as last year,” said Mr A. R. Barnsdale. secretary of the society. “As usual the fancy dancing and national dancing sections have drawn most entries.”

He said there had been changes in the method of conducting the competitions. In past years the society had run off classes during the day and recalled the first three or four to constitute a variety concert in the evening. As that did not suit the vocal section the competitions had been cut down by three days by finalising more classes earlier. The senior vocal class would be held in the evening instead of in the day.

There will be five sections, elocution, instrumental, vocal, fancy dancing, and national dancing. The judges will be Messrs B. J. Dunne. C. L. Martin, and G. E. Wilkinson, Miss B. Dix and Mrs J. Eggleton respectively. The fancy dancing competition will be held at the Repertory Theatre on May 9, instrumental and national dancing at the Caledonian Hall on May 10, elocution at the New Scottish Hall on May 11, and vocal at St. Andrew’s Hall on May 12. There will be matinee and evening demonstration concerts held at the Civic Theatre on May 12 and May 19. In a foreword to the programme, Mr T. E. West, president of the society, refers .to the apathetic manner in which the majority of Christchurch residents had treated the competitions in previous years, in extreme contrast to their attitude towards entertainments from overseas.

“There could be greater support and interest in young talented artists, who appear at the competitions. In many cases their talent surpasses imported acts seen in touring companies,” Mr West says.