Search for N.Z. talent

Press, 20 September 1982, Page 14

Search for N.Z. talent

The producer. Chris Cooper, and the director. Andy Shaw, spent two weeks in March auditioning new talent throughout New Zealand for this year's “Threshold Promotion Company" series, which will start on One tomorrow, at 6 p.m. The purpose of the series is to expose budding entertainers who are on the threshold of their careers to show business organisers. Cooper hopes that, after appearing on the show, many of the performers will be offered work by record companies. cabaret owners and others in the business. *

This year nearly 400 hopefuls responded to the onscreen promotion which urged would-be performers to apply. After auditions, these were narrowed down to 36 acts with six appearing on each of the first six halfhour programmes. The progamme follows the same format as last year's with Grant Bridger introducing the acts.

The seventh programme is a concert recorded at the Maidment Theatre and selected performers are invited to reappear. "It becomes apparent over the

series that there are certain people who shine a little more than the others, and they are invited back." said Cooper. The offers of work and the recipients will be made public in the final programme. Because Grant will be in Rarotonga filming with David Bowie and Tom Conti on the production of “Savage Island." the host of the final programme will be Margaret Campbell of “Wildtrack." She is also a singer.

For several of last year's performers, their appearance on “Threshold Promotion Company” did indeed act as a springboard for their careers as professional entertainers.

Anne Crummer landed a contract with Polygram and released her first single. "Once or Twice." which is still in the charts after reaching Number 16 in February. The sixteen-year-old Aucklander also appears as Richard Eriwata's resident guest on his series. “Richard Eriwata: Te Wairua." When

not on television. Anne is'doing full-time cabaret work.; and has plans to release a; follow-up single soon. •

Southern Transit, the four-, piece vocal harmony groupl with the polished perform-* ance. were also chosen to be; resident guests on a tele-! vision series this year. They! appeared with Ray Woolf; earlier in the year and will! be seen again' with him in; November. !•

In the country music; world, one of the real finds* of the series, says TVNZ, was! Jeff Rea. a farmer from’ West Otago. Jeff sings andplays guitar as well as writ-' ing his own songs. He was J selected by “Threshold Pro-; motion Company” to .travel! to the Tamworth Country! Music Festival and as a.result a special New Zealand; concert featuring New Zea-!' land artists will be held in! the Tamworth Town Hall; next year. "Threshold Pro-!’ motion Company" hopes to< send a discovery from the; show to the festival againnext year. !