Professional Theatre

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 14

Professional Theatre

The Canterbury Repertory Society has hit upon a good idea in its theatre centre scheme. New Zealand has not so far shown itself capable of adequately supporting its own full-scale professional theatre; yet it needs more than the work of devoted amateurs. The society has devised a way of developing its assets without impairing the opportunities of its amateur members. Indeed, these opportunities should be enlarged if the society can add both a training school for drama and a professional unit to its activities. This will entail a considerable construction programme. It already has its own theatre, a unique asset among New Zealand theatre groups; but it is bound to look beyond its own resources for the rearrangement of its theatre and the backing of a professional company. In this, the society can confidently look to the community for support. Here is a fresh opportunity to exploit the investment the State has made, through bursaries, in the training of young actors abroad. Here is a proper and promising instrument by which the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council, as agent of the State, can further the development of theatre arts. It would be a reasonable investment for the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation as a growing employer of professional talent in this sphere. Above all, such a scheme, which appears sound in its conception and certainly will be rewarding in its realisation, deserves the support of individual citizens. It would doubtless be followed by similar projects in other cities and, when these had been established, their resources could be combined in larger productions. Because the scale of the proposal is modest, its development should not be hazardous; and it promises the community rich and lasting rewards in return for the initial investment.