Audiences for drama ‘may stop growing’

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33665, 15 October 1974, Page 2

Audiences for drama ‘may stop growing’

I he growth of drama audiences in Christchurch, although considerable in the last three years, might come to a sudden halt, says Mr Mervyn Thompson, a lecturer in English at the University of Canterbury and a theatrical producer.

This sudden stop, although not an actual reversal. would result from competition for audiences by the big number of overseas artists performing in the Town Hall, he said. Mr Thompson will leave for Wellington in January to become the full-time director of the Downstage Theatre.

He has been tn Christchurch for the last eight years, and has produced more than 25 stage producttons. He said that he might have stayed in Christchurch if; there had been a practical; drama unit at the university. But Victoria University had: such a course, and he hoped to be invited to lecture in it. His new job would be difficult and would probably pay less than his present lecturing position, said Mr Thompson. However his ■bag’’ was drama, and he was finding that lecturing was: limiting this. Mr Thompson said that he still had great hope for drama in Christchurch as long as administrators gave more freedom to creative artists. He would produce no more plays in Christchurch before, he left, he said. “I intend to! take a rest before going to I Wellington.” Mr Thompson’s last production was “The Taming of the Shrew.”