Co-operative theatre opens in Chch
A new theatre will open in Christchurch this week and, according to its founders, will provide a viable professional alternative to the established community theatre.
Two professional actors who have worked extensively at the Court Theatre, Alison Quigan and Martyn Duffy, have formed REACT — the Real Alternative Cooperative Theatre.
REACT’s aim is to provide an alternative area of employment for theatre professionals in the community. Its founders believe there is a real need to fill a gap in the performing arts in Christchurch. REACT has been created to do this, just as Wellington has in its
Circa theatre and Auckland has with the Theatre Corporate. The group will work on a co-operative basis at all levels, with people working within it sharing their talents, knowledge and ideas. Independent productions will be staged at the warehouse theatre, which is in Durham Street. The publicity officer, Maggie Hillock, said it was not certain whether the theatre would remain at the warehouse, but the first production, Greg McGee’s “Out in the Gold,” will open there this week-end. “Out in the Cold” has played at REACT’s counterparts in Wellington and Auckland. The one-act play is set to freezing works, and
explores the problems of Judy, a solo mother who decides that she will work there to earn some money fast, but had to disguise herself as a man to get the job. The play is directed by Barry Empson, who has worked at the Court Theatre — he was in Oedipus and Dirty Linen last year. The cast includes Alison Quigan as Judy, Martyn Duffy as the chauvinist, Strawberry, Patrick Paynter as Porridge, and Jim McLean is Jimmy. The production has been designed by Julia Morison who was designer for the Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerston North before she came to Christchurch last year.
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Press, 11 April 1984, Page 20
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303Co-operative theatre opens in Chch Press, 11 April 1984, Page 20
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