First-Nighters9 Club Will Help Theatre Lovers

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30405, 2 April 1964, Page 2

First-Nighters 9 Club Will Help Theatre Lovers

Theatre lovers in Christchurch are forming a club to help foster an interest in theatre and concert entertainment, and to enable members to enjoy reduced concession prices and booking privileges to many theatrical events in the city.

Called the “First Nighters’ Club,” the group was organised by Miss Angela Harman, who has seen similar clubs thrive successfully in Sydney. With another New Zealander, she started a luncheon club in Sydney. It not only enabled concession bookings to be made, but gave opportunities for entertaining and meeting theatrical personalities. Keenly interested in the theatre, at both local and international level, Miss Harman experimented with the same idea in Christchurch last year, when Miss Joyce Grenfell was entertained at a luncheon. Though she hopes to do somethnig more in that line again later, the First Nighters is primarily for helping members see theatre entertainment more reasonably, to let them know what attractions are coming and to make booking seats easier for them.

Both amateur and professional theatre, local and overseas concerts, will be supported by the group, so long as it is playing in a theatre in the city area. A non-profit making organisation, with subscriptions only covering printing and postage, the club could not be able to extend its booking amenities to suburban theatre groups, though it would help these by sending their advertising literature te its members, Miss Harman said. Miss Harman and the club’s secretary (Mrs A. Hopman) feel there is a real need for such a club in the city, particularly with prices for many overseas entertainments being very high.

“We hope to bring the theatre within reach of many who have never experienced how exciting it can be,” Miss Harman said.

All categories of taste are catered for by the club, from jazz concerts and variety, to plays, ballet, opera and solo concerts.

The committee would be in constant contact with theatrical organisations, who had been most interested in the club and its aims, and would send out newsletters and pamphlets, well in advance, announcing coming, attractions, with application forms for booking seats, up to four for each member, she said. “When I started putting out feelers, I found tremendous interest in the idea of such a club,” Miss Harman said. When membership grows, it is hoped to introduce further innovations, such as supper parties, and arranging babysitters.