PUBLISHING N.Z. PLAYS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31221, 19 November 1966, Page 19

PUBLISHING N.Z. PLAYS

Drama League Hopes

A hope that plays by New Zealand playwrights would not only be published but also exported was expressed by Mr H. Bell, president of the Christchurch and North Canterbury area of the New Zealand branch of the British Drama League, at the annual area meeting.

This was prompted by the successful publication of a play, “Heads Will Roll,” by a Christchurch playwright, Eve Hughes, this year, he said.

The area had decided to publish three further New Zealand written plays on a subscription basis. Sufficient support had been received for the first of these, “The Long Wait,” by the South Otago playwright, Wayne Tourelle, to be published by December 17. Mr Bell said the New Zealand novel was now a recognised form overseas, yet during the 1920 s and 1930 s it was, like the New Zealand play today, a struggling and obscure art form. When the meeting was told by Mr Bell that grants from Golden Kiwi lotteries were available mainly to sports groups and multi-purpose building projects, Mr I. Finlayson moved that the area strongly support any move to obtain capital grants for drama clubs from this source. The motion was passed unanimously. Mr Bell said that financial aid to drama clubs from the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council was substantially increased this year after agitation from area committees.

However, responsibility for financial aid for drama groups was being passed between the Arts Council and the Department of Internal Affairs, he said.

A suggestion to the incoming committee that toutorship for country groups be studied was made by the meeting. The bringing to the South Island of Mr L. Wilson, a lighting expert from Hamilton. was also recommended.

The meeting expressed regret at the death this year of M.- W. E. Cook, the area’s patron. A trophy has been given to commemorate his service to amateur theatre in Canterbury. It will be awarded each year to the best play by a local playwright in the area festival.

Officers elected were: patron, Mr J. Collins: president, I"- H. Bell: vice-president, Miss E. Neville; secretary, Mrs J. Aitchison: treasurer, Mr P. Gibb: stage director, Mr N. Robinson: honorary auditor, Mr G. B. Sheppard: committee, Messrs I. Finlayson, K. Taylor, B. Gallas, Mesdames D. Milburn, B. Harris, M. I Hurd, and N. Sheard.