PLAYS AND POSTERS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29524, 27 May 1961, Page 9

PLAYS AND POSTERS

Competitions For Pupils

National playwriting and poster-design competitions for school pupils have been announced by the New Zealand Theatr e Company in cooperation with Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd. The awards, which will be known as the Whitcombe and Tombs prizes, amount to £250. There will be two classifications in both the play and poster competitions. Children over 15 years on July 10 will be classified as senior. Pupils 15 years and under on the same date will be eligible to compete in the junior grade. The senior prizes in each of the competitions will be: first. £4O: second. £l5; third, a £5 token. Prizes for juniors will be: first £3O, second £lO, third a £5 token. In addition, the five finalists in each group will receive a token, valued at £2, for either books or art materials.

The literary competition is for a one-act play lasting 10 to 15 minutes. The best or most suitable play of four characters or less will be presented nationally next year by the New Zealand Theatre Company's drama quartet. The art competition is for a poster for “Romeo and Juliet,” which will 'be the New Zealand Theatre Company’s first touring production. or any other well-known play. Judges for the drama competition will be Mr D. Lawson, literary editor, Whitcombe and Tombs, Mr W. Austin, chief producer, New Zealand Broadcasting Service, and Mr R. Campion, chairman of the New Zealand Theatre Company. The art judges will be Mr D. Beytagh, a Wellington artist. Mr D. Ramage, a past president of the New Zealand Fine Arts Society, and Mr R. Boyce, a well-known theatre designer. The closing dates for entries in both competitions will be July 10.