Shakespearean Festival Planned For City
A Shakespeare festival in Christchurch is planned from August 5 to August 19 by the Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society and the New Zealand Theatre Company. “Henry VTII” is to be presented by the society in the first week and in the second week the company’s touring production of "Romeo and Juliet” will have its Christchurch season.
This has been announced by the chairman of the theatre company's directors (Mr Richard Campion), and the chairman of the society (Mr T. A. Kincaid).
Both productions will be in the Theatre Royal. This is the first time the repertory society has produced a play in this theatre. The costs are expected to be high and some firms and organisations have been approached to find out if they are interested in helping to finance the venture.
Firms will also be asked to help by displays in shop windows.
Music composed for the performance of “Romeo and Juliet” by David Farquhar and by members of the music department at the University of Canterbury for “Henry VIII” will be presented in instrumental and vocal recitals during the festival, with music by other composers who have written for Shakespeare’s plays. Lectures will be given and Shakespearean poetrv recited by members of the New Zealand Theatre Company and others chosen by the repertory society’s resident producer (Mr Heath Joyce). Mr Joyce is producing "Henry VHI.” Mr Campion said that it was particularly fitting that such a festival should be staged in a city bordering the river Avon, a name which would always be associated with Shakespeare end his works.
“Shakespeare has captured the essential humanities in his works, and as a result, his plays have a topical quality today that is always surprising and often startling,” said Mr Campion. "Romeo and Juliet” was a remarkable example of this timelessness, he said. The play’s plot revealed that juvenile delinquency was nothing new, but existed in Shakespeare’s day.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume C, Issue 29520, 23 May 1961, Page 8
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323Shakespearean Festival Planned For City Press, Volume C, Issue 29520, 23 May 1961, Page 8
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