Theatre ‘alive and welT in N.Z.

Press, 2 June 1981, Page 13

Theatre ‘alive and welT in N.Z.

New Zealand theatre is alive and well but needs to grey at the temples," according to the actor. Jonathon Elsom. after a successful season at the Court

Christchurch-born Mr Elsom will return to Britain, where he expects to act alongside Penelope Keith in a new series of the television comedy, "To the Manor Born "

Mr Elsom left New Zealand 23 vears ago to further a career that has included theatre, tievision, film, and radio work.

He said. "When I left there was only one professional company in New Zealand. Now there are six to eight theatres managing to survive in a poor economic climate.” Mr Elsom was at the Court Theatre for a' sixmonth season at the invitation of its director, Elric Hooper, a friend of Mr Elsom’s from university davs. Mr Elsom said that Christchurch had a thriving theatre in the Court. He had enjoyed the variety of roles he had played at "the Court and was impressed bv the training workshops all the actors had attended.

In the last eight years he had visited New Zealand four times and each time he had been impressed by the improvement in theatre. - The Court Theatre was of a standard equal to the good repertory companies in Britain.

Many "name” actors would be interested in working in New Zealand but- the profession was less mobile

than he would like because of work-perrnit restrictions. His ideal would be to commute between New Zealand and Britain. A sharing of experiences would create a richer theatre. New Zealand's directors, writers, actors, and technicians'were of a very high standard and this could only v: improve. v > British theatre had' the : edge over New Zealand's \

because of its history and tradition. In Mr Elsom's baggage to Britain will be a prop he brought with him for the role of 60-year-old Victor in the Court's production of "The Bed Before Yesterday.” The prop is a grey wig ' hited from a London specialist ' wig-making company which has worked exclusivcly'for theatre for many years.- ■"