Christchurch To Mark Shakespeare Anniversary

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30390, 14 March 1964, Page 15

Christchurch To Mark Shakespeare Anniversary

. The official programme for Canterbury’s participation in the international celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare was released bythe Canterbury Public Relations Office yesterday. Events cover four days in April. On April 23 at 10 a.m. at the Chief Post Office, Mr H. J. Walker, M.P., will forward to Stratford-on-Avon the Dominion’s poem of tribute. The poem, which was written by the Rev. Father J. Weir, S.M.. has been hand-printed and illuminated by the sisters of the Community of the Sacred Name, the Christchurch Anglican convent.

At 10.30 a.m. that day there will be an official welcoming ceremony at Christchurch airport to essay and poetry contest winners at which the chairman of the Christchurch City Council airport committee (Cr. A. R. Guthrey) will officiate. Free air transport will be provided to Christchurch by the National Airways Corporation.

At 12.10 p.m. to 12.50 p.m. and between 1.10 p.m. and 1.50 p.m. Elizabethan dances, madrigals, and Shakespearean cameo scenes will be presented by the Theatre Arts Guild in Hay’s theatrette. An evensong and choral memorial service will be held in Christchurch Cathedral at

5.15 p.m., and at 8 p.m., in the Canterbury Repertory Theatre the Repertory Theatre Society will present “Coriolanus.” This will continue each evening to April 30. On Friday, April 24, in Hay’s theatrette excerpts from Shakespeare will be enacted by combined Christchurch drama societies in the lunch-hour. At 10.30 p.m. in the El Segundo coffee lounge New Zealand poets will offer their own “Happy Birthday Dear Bill” programme. At Beath’s on April 27 between 12.10 p.m. and 12.50 p.m. prizes to essay and poetry competition winners will be presented by the Canterbury Public Relations Officer (Mr N. Todd). The winning verses and essays will be read. The following day at the same place there will be readings of the winning essays and verses.