Theatre trust established

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32965, 11 July 1972, Page 14

Theatre trust established

The Christchurch Theatre Trust was established as the professional theatre company of the Court Theatre (Inc.) at the first annual meeting last evening. The voluntary supporting society will be known as the Court Theatre Society.

The trust will take over the assets and liabilities of the Court and improve the running of the theatre. A full-time manager may be appointed. Performances of plays ranged from 'll to 28, attendance per season from 500 to 2000; loses on producttions were as much as $BOO, and profits as much as $2OOO. The highest return came from “King Lear.”

“INTO THE UNKNOWN” “I believe the health of the society, is reflected in the health of the theatre —this health is reflected in a healthy tension between the old and the new,” Mr M. Thompson, a director, said. He said there would be “an explosion into the unknown” in the years to come. Rights to overseas plays cost about $lOOO-$l5OO per year so more New Zealand plays might be included. The meeting decided to write to the Director-General of Broadcasting (Mr L. R. Sceates) expressing disappointment at a statement made on television that the climate of theatre in Christchurch did not warrant the continuance of the N.Z.B.C. Radio Drama Studios, which were closed at the end of May. The Court has made submissions to the N.Z.B.C. to have the studios reopened early in 1973.

Officers elected were: patron, Mr A. R. Guthrey; committee, Messrs C. McVeigh and W. T. Guthrie, Mesdames J. Harvest, C. Ward, D. Briant and A. Barton; trustee to trust board, Dr B. Jones; honorary solicitor, Mr McViegh; auditor, Mr J. Loftus.