Theatrical ‘Gamble’ By English Couple

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31381, 29 May 1967, Page 2

Theatrical ‘Gamble’ By English Couple

It was an adventurous spirit of the most “sophisticated” kind which induced the British actors, Bruce Montague and Barbara Latham, to risk their established reputations, to pioneer a professional theatre group in Christcb’arch.

“Nothing has had this new appeal for us in England,” said Miss Latham (Mrs Montagne outside the theatre). “How offen does any actor get the opportunity to shape the destiny of a country’s theatrical culture,” said Mr Montague in Christ* church yesterday. Ironically, it is the dearth of openings for actors in New Zealand that brings such a wealth of opportunity to experienced actors from overseas. “Here you have this vast, uncommitted population which can be swayed in either direction,” said Mr Montague.

Their decision to leave England where there is a long heritage of professional theatre, and risk a future in New Zealand where professional theatre is still an embryo does not involve particularly much courage.

“How much more brave are the amateurs who leave New Zealand to go to the professional theatre in England. You have a considerable amount of talent here, but hitherto there has been no outlet for it,” they said. Public taste, already clearly defined in England, is something of an unknown quantity here, the couple agreed. "When one theatre manager in England referred to the concessions one must make to the tinkling of the tea cups at a Thursday afternoon matinee, he just about summed it up,” said Mr Montague.

“The tinkling of the teacups,” he explained, referred to the middle-aged and elderly women, who will continue to support English repertory, for just as long as it continues to offer inoffensive fare.

“Here we can nurture the public to accept ‘good* and ■modern’ plays along with the traditional diet. “One has to be bold, vital and hold a mirror up to nature, not forgetting the audi-

ence, but taking them along with us.”

Both Mr and Mrs Montague are pleased at the initiative of many local amateur groups in Christchurch, in producing a quite “daring” selection of modern plays. “We should find that the audience here is already sensitised,” said Mr Montague. Financial sacrifice means nothing where their artistic integrity is involved, although with two children to support—Kate aged one, and Sammy, almost four—they cannot afford to be unrealistic. “John Kim invokes confidence and we both share this,” said Mrs Montague. “Financial considerations don’t come into it. I would rather do good work than bad work for money,” said Mr Montague. On the very day, and within the very hour that the Montagues received a telegram advising their applications for the Canterbury Regional Theatre had been successful, Mr Montague was offered the lead in a West End musical. "It was probably the tensest day of our lives, but we both felt this had more to offer,” said Mrs Montague. Both, husband and wife trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and have a background of classical theatre. Mrs Montague has starred with the Old Vic and played a season in a comedy theatre in the West End. Like his wife, Mr Montague has had considerable experience in English repertory, and has played several seasons with the Old Vic. He has also played a number of roles in television productions.

In 1962, he went on a world tour with the Old Vic, and visited New Zealand, playing In Auckland, Wellington and Palmerston North. At that time, Miss Vivien Leigh was in the company and Mr Montague eventually took over the role of Orsino in “Twelfth Night” Although he has had a thorough training and considerable experience in classical theatre, Mr Montague maintains his metier is “really very modern.”

“Modern acting Is very regionalised in England. If you don’t come from Liverpool and. have a genuine regional accent, yon start with a handicap.” Working for the new theatre also has a personal advantage for the young couple. They met and married when they were working together in the Colchester Repertory six years ago and they have not played together since. “We have not come here with any doubts. Our immediate problems are to find a housekeeper to look after the children and a house to live in. “Our more remote problem will involving bringing between 10 and 5 per cent of the population of the 350,000 people in Canterbury and the West Coast out of their homes and into the theatre.”