Stratford Play To Tour N.Z.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30916, 24 November 1965, Page 1

Stratford Play To Tour N.Z.

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A J LONDON, Nov. 23. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon will present Clifford William’s highly-successful production of “The Comedy of Errors” in New Zealand early next year.

Arrangements for the tour have just been completed in London by Mr D. D. O’Connor, the New Zealand impresario.

He said the cast would be recruited from New Zealand actors as far as possible, including some of those now resident in England. Costumes and properties would be shipped to New Zealand at the end of the current Stratford season.

The play will be re-directed by Mr Gareth Morgan, who has been assistant director for several productions by the Royal Shakespeare Company, including “The Comedy of Errors.” Before commencing rehearsals, he will assist at a drama school, to be conducted by the New Zealand Theatre Centre in Wellington in January.

Opening In March

Mr Williams will supervise final rehearsals and the opening performance, which is expected to be in Auckland on March 19.

Mr Peter Hall, director of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, says he hopes the tour will establish a lasting link with New Zealand theatre and will lead to other tours, in which the Stratford company will co-operate in every way. The Comedy of Errors,” in this production by Clifford Williams, has been one of the most successful comedies ever given in Stratford, where it has been included in the repertoire for three successive years—something which has never happened before. It has also been shown in each of these years at the Aldwych Theatre in London, and, in 1963, with Paul Scofield’s “King Lear,” was taken on a world tour which extended to West Berlin, Prague, Helsinki, Moscow, Leningrad, Washington and New York. Last year it was given as a Royal Command performance at Windsor Castle, and was televised by the 8.8. C.

The New Zealand tour will be directed by D. D. O'Connor Productions, Ltd., in association with the New Zealand Theatre Centre.