NEWS FOR WOMEN Overseas Success Of Christchurch Actress

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28253, 15 April 1957, Page 2

NEWS FOR WOMEN Overseas Success Of Christchurch Actress

A young woman who has more letters after her name than there is in it and who has made a name for herself in the theatre and in radio and television circles overseas has just returned to Christchurch. She is Miss Nancy R. Wise, who is spending a month’s holiday with her parents, Mr and Mrs L. J. Wise, of Linwood. Miss Wise played in repertory in Christchurch and toured the North Island as a member of the cast of the Council of Adult Education production, “Pygmalion,” which gave one-night performances in North Island towns. Diplomas After being an understudy in the J. C. Williamson production. “Worm’s Eye View,” Miss Wise was awarded a New Zealand Government Cultural Bursary to study overseas for two years. She sailed for England in August, 1952. While she was studying in London she passed the following teacher’s diplomas and acting examinations: Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music and Drama (L.R.A.M.), Licentiate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (L.G.SM.). Licentiate of the Trinity College of Music and Drama (L.T.C.L.), Associate of the London Academy of Music and Drama (A.L.A.M.). Associate of the- Drama Board of Britain (A.B.D.\ and Poetry Society Gold Medallist (P.S.G.M.). She was also awarded a further scholarship by the City Fathers of London and won eight college prizes. Miss Wise then went into repertory, playing in lead parts. “Repertory is very hard work with long hours and little money. One drawback is that the actors have to provide their own clothes. The result is that you do not throw out old clothes as you never know when a pair of shoes, a dirty macintosh, or a moth-eaten fur collar will be required. The professionals carry their clothes around in wicker hampers called skips,” said Miss Wise.

It was while she was playing the part of an elegant visitor in a play where a ragged old landlady had hysterics and had a jug of water thrown over her by her husband that the members of the company derided to upset my poise on the last night,” said Miss Wise. “I was standing there saying my lines when the husband took one step too far and the next moment I received the contents of the jug of cold water full in the face. I spluttered, but managed to carry on. Repertory was hard work, but it was also a lot of fun,” she said. x After leaving repertory, Miss Wise became a full-time lecturer

for the London County Council and for the Adult Education Department. She went to Australia in 1956 and joined the Australian Broadcasting Commission as a talks officer. The two most notable occasions in her stay in "England, apart from those of the theatre, were her presentation to the Queen Mother and the next year her presentation to the Queen at a private presentation, party for students from the Dominion, Miss Wise said.

In her present position as talks officer for the A.B.C. Miss Wise arranges, writes and records talks for broadcasting. She interviews visitors to Melbourne and often makes “on-the-spot” recordings. She is also a commentator and a reporter. She has been a television compere on an evening show and on her return to Melbourne will produce two weekly shows for women which will be televised in the afternoon. There were three television stations in both Sydney and Melbourne. Two in each city were commercial and the other one was operated by the Australian Broadcasting Commission, said Miss Wise. The stations began televising each day about 3.30 p.m. with an hour’s programme for women. Then at 5 p.m. there were sessions for children which included cartoons, films and competitions for about an hour. Transmission was resumed again at 7 p.m. with programmes for adults. Working Under Pressure

In television you are working under tremendous pressure as there does not seem to be enough time for rehearsals, you are working in cramped studios with hundreds of lights which make the heat almost unbearable, and there is a lack of excitement and stimulus that can only be provided by a live audience. After the show is over you feel completely deflated as there are no curtain calls or applause,” said Miss Wise.

Miss Wise was appointed an examiner in the art of speech with the Conservatorium of Music at Melbourne University and was recently appointed to the teaching staff of the -Conservatorium. She has judged in all parts of Victoria for the Victorian Drama League and for the Council of Adult Education and also for the Heidleberg Festival, the annual Victoria Drama League Festival which has more than 30 entries. Miss Wise has judged the speech and mime section at the South Street Eisteddfod held in Ballarat. Miss Wise is anxious to meet old friends before she returns to Australia.