BRITISH DRAMA LEAGUE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29265, 25 July 1960, Page 17

BRITISH DRAMA LEAGUE

13 Plays For Area Festival Plays by Lorca, Pinero, Rattigan. John Mortimer, and two well-known New Zealand playwrights, Jean Lawrence and Marie Bullock, will contribute to the British Drama League’s annual area festival, beginning at the Repertory Theatre on Wednesday. Thirteen plays have been en- : tered by ten city clubs and societies and the selection indicates : programmes of a more even standard of merit than usual. The festival will be officially opened on Wednesday evening by the area patron (Miss Jean McGregor). Plays will then be presented by the William Morris Group (“The Faithful Widow of Ephesus”), South Brighton Women’s Institute Drama Group ("Six Wives of Calais”), and the Elmwood Players (“Harlequinade”). Thursday’s programme comprises plays by the Risingholme Drama Group ("Sorry, Wrong Number”), Shirley Players (“Playgoers”), Christchurch Hospital Drama Club ("Storm Music”), and W.E.A. Dramatic Society (“Producer's Pifte,” by Marie Bullock). The Christchurch Religious Drama Society (“The House by the Stable”), Elmwood Players (“The Parpot Assassination”), Catholic Women’s League Drama Group (“The House of Bernards Alba”) and Shirley Players (“Sales Lady”) will appear on Friday evening. On Saturday two plays (totalling 110 minutes), will be presented by the Risingholme Drama Group (“What Shall We Tell Caroline?”) and the Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society (“The Closing Door.” by Jean Lawrence). This programme will be followed by the judge’s summing-up and announcement of winning teams and the presentation of awards and trophies by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr G. Manning). Unlike previous final nights at festivals, the curtain will fall at a reasonable time. Support Needed “One thousand tickets have been distributed for sale to a record number of 32 affiliated clubs,” said the area president (Mr W. E. Cook). “These, we hope, will provide the nucleus of our audience each night and ensure the festival is self-support-ing. but the clubs taking part need, and deserve, the support of every theatre-minded person in Christchurch.” The judge will be Mrs Nancy Russell, of Hawera. A North Island vice-president of the New Zealand branch of the British Drama League, Mrs Russell is a well-known producer, actress, and judge in Taranaki. Mrs Russell will not be required to choose two plays to go forward to divisional finals. Instead, this year, as an experiment, the South Island areas have been divided into regions, the northern region comprising the Christchurch, South Canterbury, North Otago, and Otago areas. Mrs Russell will, in addition to judging each area festival, select one play from the northern region to appear at the national finals at Oamaru on September 3. This will be announced shortly ~ after the fourth and final festival L in the series (North Otago) at Oamaru on August 8,9, and 10. The same procedure will be followed in the southern region, comprising the South Otago, Central Otago, and South Otago areas, with Miss Frona King, of Nelson, as adjudicator. The winning plays chosen by Mrs Russell from nine entries in the South Canterbury area festival last week were both by New Zealand authors. Written and produced by Elizabeth Hawes, of Timaru, "The Twain Shall Meet.” by the Phoenix Drama Group, gained the A grade award. The B grade award was won by “Pity My Betrayer,” by John Law- “ rence, of Blenheim, produced by May Drennan and presented by the Geraldine Players. Both plays portray racial relations between Maori and pakeha.