The sixtieth show

Press, 8 May 1985, Page 22

The sixtieth show

Neta Neale’s decision 33 years ago to found a theatre for children has resulted in 59 shows designed specifically for children. On Saturday the Canterbury Children’s Theatre opens its sixtieth production at the Repertory Theatre.

Wickham Pack was commissioned by the theatre to create a new version of the favourite story of Cinderella.

Carol Carr, who plays a mouse in the show, is also writing a history of the first 20 years of the theatre. Miss Carr, a radio journalist and active member of the theatre, says the history is very much in the early stages. ‘'During the May holidays production last year we decided it would be a good idea to record some of the early days of the theatre. The life members who were active in those days are getting older and we thought we should record their memories while they can still remember those days.” the first research on the history was easy. Miss Carr spent some time reading through scrapbooks that had been kept of the early productions.

At the moment she is interviewing the theatre's life members and other people connected with the Children’s Theatre in its early years. “I am collecting a number of anecdotes, some of them the same, and memories and impressions of the first productions," she says. She is not sure when she will complete all the interviews she wants to Jo.

"Someone suggested the history would take two years but it is almost a year since I started and I still have a long way to go.” Miss Carr’s history will concentrate on the period from 1952 to about 1970. The later years of the theatre can be written up later, she says. “The later shows are all well-documented and the people who were involved in those shows still active in the theatre.”

By comparison the scrapbooks of early shows are a little patchy and the theatre still does not have programmes for four or five oi the early shows. Miss Carr would like to hear from anyone with prgrammes or any information about the early days of the Children’s Theatre.

“Even anyone who was in the audience would give an impression and a new side of the early days,” she says. The theatre began in 1952 with a production of “The Tinder Box.” The costumes were copied from sixteenth century drawings and the dogs’ heads had moveable jaws, such was the attention given to detail for the theatre's shows, says the theatre secretary, Anne Worthington.

"The Tinder Box” was followed by "The Princess and the Swineherd” and a succession of fairv-tales.

The theatre rapidly grew and in 1965 got its own building in the Malthouse in Colombo Street. After some work on the building it was opened in 1969. Productions increased to twice a year and the theatre

The sixtieth show "Cinderella” is a new version of the traditional story. The play includes musical arrangements and songs. Mice musicians are part of the cast.

The large adult cast includes Beryl Macleod as the Fairy Godmother, Mervyn Glue as Cinderella's Stepmother, and Tim Allan as the Royal Messenger. The Ugly Sisters are played by Petrina Thin and Susan Wells, and Cinderella’s helpers, Mother and Father Mouse, are Margaret Fife and Bryon Jones. Cinderella is played by Alison Harding and Anton Daish is Prince Charming (alias P.C.). TerryToner is in the cast as Cinderella’s father.

The stage set, designed by Wickham Pack, has a staircase which leads to another acting level. The show will play at the Repertory Theatre from Saturday'evening until May 25. 4’