N.Z. PLAYERS ENVISAGED AS A NATIONAL THEATRE

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28047, 15 August 1956, Page 18

N.Z. PLAYERS ENVISAGED AS A NATIONAL THEATRE

The greater part of the story of the I New Zealand Players Company had still to be enacted, said Mr G. H. A. | Swan, a trustee of the New Zealand . Players Theatre Trust Board, in an i address read to the annual meeting of • the Canterbury branch of the New I Zealand Players’ Foundation by Mr i W. E. Truman. “I say ‘of course.’ because it is quite ' impossible to think that the public i of New Zealand will let this company | perish for the sake of the very small = sum of money that is required to en- i sure its long life,” he said. In the address the establishment of | the comnany and its experience in the last four years was reviewed. Mr Swan recalled that the first year’s activities of the company had resulted in a substantial loss—Mr R. C. Morpeth, auditor of the new trust hoard, later in the meeting reported that the loss had been about £14,000 — the second year had showed a profit of almost £4000: in the third year the “omrany had again suffered some financial set-back: and this year “Twelfth Night” had produced a small profit and “Salad Days” had easily broken all previous box office records. Mr Morpeth eaid it might show a profit of about £2OOO. “The period of establishment „ can nrnperly be regarded as passed,” he said. Debenture Issue Appealing for support for a £20.000 debenture issue which is being solicited by the New Zealand Players Theatre Trust Board. Mrs John Trevor, a member of the boar/ 4 of management of the New Zealand Players’ Foundation. said she Mt the players were ’•lowlv but steadilv starting to counter the idea that because an organisation of its tyne consisted of New Zeala it would n°ver be good. Mrs Trevor said sh<=> felt the P’a' r ers* wn r k in the schools deserved support. r thousand children had seen a recent Mr Morpeth said the idea of the Hebenture iss”e had been conceived -o that the public wouM ha'-e a chance of becoming co-owners o f the Plavers and so that the organisation would closely resemble a nationa' lt was honed to collect £20.000 from the public. The Government had promised £5OOO. in addition

to the £3OOO it had given earlier. Ey the time the £25 000 had been collected. the new board would have buildings, plant, theatrical equipment and lighting to the value of £16.000. and £ll.OOO or £12,000 in the bank or being used for the next production. Founders’ Gift Mr Morpeth said the founders of the theatre. Richard and Edith Campion. who had received no salaries, dividdends. or even travelling expenses during their association with the Players, had given to the trust their shares representing an outlay of £ 18.000. The branch chairman. Mr M. Walker. ; announced that so far debentures to j the value of £2113 had been sub- ! scribed by 165 persons, including 12 . Christchurch people who had contributed £245. Mr Walker reported that the foundation had a membership of 17,500 in ; 29 branches. The Canterbury branch j ! had a membership of 1439. and since | | the presentation of “Salad Days” there l ’ had been an increase in membership i ! oi about 40 or 50.