SHORTAGE OF PRODUCERS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28700, 25 September 1958, Page 14

SHORTAGE OF PRODUCERS

Club Drama Work Hampered

“For the area to succeed as a live area, building up dramatic talent and furthering education in theatrical art, we must have more producers,” says the president of the Christchurch and North Canterbury area of the British Drama League (Mr W. E. Cook) in his annual report to be presented at the annual meeting tonight. “One or two clubs are falling by the wayside because of the lack of an efficient producer to help them. There is plenty of ability amongst our club members, yet these members won’t take the final step with confidence,” he says. Twenty-four clubs were affiliated to the area last year A loss of five clubs which had gone into recess was offset by five new affiliations Christchurch West High School. Phoenix Theatre. Southbridge. Dunsandel, and the William Morris Group. Membership dropped from 129 members to 92 members. Highlight of the year was the area festival, with an entry of 16 plays from 13 clubs. The standard of entries was surprisingly high, while the standard of acting was higher than at any previous festival held in Christchurch, says the report.