Six-month theatrical group returns with a big message

Press, 4 July 1983, Page 25

Six-month theatrical group returns with a big message

After its successful, sixmonth tour of New Zealand, “Roadshow” has returned home.

This innovative, audiovisual spectacular about the hazards of the highway was first presented. to school children in Christchurch last year.

And, following its original

success locally, “Roadshow” was taken on a tour through 22 other centres during the first half of this year, giving most secondary-school pupils throughout the country the opportunity to see and think about this road safety stage show.

“Roadshow” returned last Thursday to the James Hay Theatre at the Christchurch Town Hall, where it has already given six performances to mainly third and fourth form school children — most of whom would not have seen any of last year’s shows.

This week, public performances will be given at 6 o’clock this evening and 8 p.m. tomorrow, while three showings for school children will continue each day until Thursday. The evening public showings will cost ?4 per adult, with $2 student concessions, or ?3 per person in groups of four or more.

Death and injury on the roads is New Zealand’s worst social problem, and “Roadshow” is a multimedia presentation designed to shock young people into accepting that they can reduce the accident rate through careful driving. Early results have shown that 15 to 25-year-old drivers — those most at risk from road deaths and injuries — were moved by “Roadshow,” and that their driving improved. “Roadshow” was compiled last year by John Densem, who wrote and composed a pilot stage show in Christchurch using dancers and actors live on stage, with selected film sequences in between. John, who also works as a graphic designer for the Christchurch City Council, says that the idea of using a stage show to promote the urgency of road safety was first conceived by Mike Gadd, Tony Francis and himself over cups of council tea. “Since then the idea has just snowballed to its present success as a nationwide tour with thoughts of even promoting the ‘Roadshow’ overseas,” John said.

With its initial encouraging success in Christchurch the New Zealand Roadshow Trust was formed in June last year, and the idea of the six-month national tour was proposed. Many industries gave sponsorship, as well as organisations including the Accident Compensation Corporation, the Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council, the New Zealand Automobile Association, the Department of Education, the Insurance Council of New Zealand, the International Year of Disabled Persons Telethon Trust, the North

Canterbury Hospital Board and Television New Zealand. Local fund-raising committees were established in 22 localities from Kaitaia to Invercargill, and the organisers confidently expect to be able to meet all the costs involved for at least the present tour. The trust hopes enough money will be promised to take “Roadshow” on the same tour once every three years. This way, young drivers of the future will be reached before bad driving patterns set in. During the past six months, the “Roadshow” has travelled with a cast and crew of 21, with many of the actors playing various roles.

Hundreds of people were also involved in shooting the spectacular accident scenes. The filming was done by Television New Zealand’s Christchurch staff.

John Densem also proudly points out that he believes this show’s six-month tour is believed to be a record by any New Zealand theatrical group.

“It has been a really gruelling tour, however, they never missed a performance, despite illness,” John adds.