Space to play for theatre

Press, 29 February 1984, Page 18

Space to play for theatre

Playful theatre is the spedaily of the five young performers who are Playsnace Theatre.

Formed last November, the group has a background in .street theatre and enjoys the immediacy and spontaneity cf performing on the streets. Play-space was formed by Alan Gay. a tutor at ’ the Piay-space Studio in Auckland.

The other four members. Paul Stephenson. Francine Kerry. Teresa Urlich and Martin Ewen, were students at the clown school run at the studio by Mr Gay. He invited them to form a

theatre group at the end of ... eir sCijOj I

Since ■ November the group has performed at festivals in ’ Wellington and Auckland, given a premiere of its 60-mlnute stage snow at its Auckland studio and at Sweetwaters. The performers are in Christchurch for performances for the Christchurch Festival on March 2. 3. 5 and 6. The Auckland clown school is the only one in New Zealand. It aims not to turn out circus-type clowns but professional comic performers. Alan Clay has been performing professionally

for the last seven years in Europe and New Zealand. The school involved spending time on the street entertaining. and the theatre group still spends a lot of time there. During the festival Piay-space will also perform at Lincoln College and give a workshop at the .Arts Centre.

“Weird People Playing Normal Games" is the title of the group's stage show. It is a multi-media show using synthesiser, bass guitar and video. The group has taken zany characters and put them into normal situations. Alan Clav says.

The show explores absurd

relationships and everyday human interaction.

Play-space is appearing in the festival as part of the Fringe Festival Like other fringe artists, the group is not being paid to appear and are hoping to pay for the trip from Auckland by doorsales. Fortunately, says Alan Gay. the performers have been able to get sponsorship from Auckland businesses to help with the cost In Auckland Play-space has a regular three-nights-a-week spot at Streets .Ahead, a theatre cafe. The group has begun building a reputa’tion for itself. Alan Clay says. “Really we have to create the audience. Many of the people who come to our classes at the studio come back again to our performances. It’s a matter of educating people to our sort of theatre. -

The growth of small theatre groups in this country. Mr Clay believes, reflects New ’Zealand's cultural growth. But be says. New Zealand has a long way to go to catch up to countries such as Denmark “I was there in May in a town a third the size of Auckland and there were 50 professional theatre groups.”