The New Zealand Theatre Entertainment Scene

Press, 2 September 1986, Page 27

The New Zealand Theatre Entertainment Scene

Theatre buffs taking a holiday around New Zealand are very well catered for. Professional theatre companies are established at Auckland, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

The southernmost professional theatre is the Fortune Theatre in Dunedin. Established in 1974, it consistently stages high standard theatre with a small fulltime team of enthusiasts. The artistic director is Campbell Thomas and he is assisted by nine fulltime staff and five fulltime actors. Other actors are co-opted when necessary.

An average of 13 productions is staged each year and they plan to start touring shows in 1987. The theatre is situated on the corner of Stuart Street and Moray Place in Dunedin and information can be obtained by telephoning 771-292.

Today, fifteen years after its beginnings, the Court Theatre stands second to none in New Zealand as an innovative and stable professional theatre.

Largely through the fund-raising and generosity of the unique Supporters’ Organisation, the Court at the Arts Centre has been able continually to improve its comforts and amenities. No theatre in New Zealand has provided a wider repertoire. The Court has been particularly strong in the presentation of the classics.

One of the things of which the Court is proudest is its encouragement of New Zealand writing and especially local Christchurch writing. ‘Blood of the Lamb’ Bruce Mason’s last com-

pleted and perhaps most distrubing play was commissioned by the Court. At the other extreme the musical ‘Footrot Flats,’ now a New Zealand classic, also came from the Court stable.

The Court, through an understanding and vigilant board and fine business administration has avoided the financial crises that have so beset other theatres in the country. These elements combined with the spirit of the Court’s founders have sustained the Court over its first 15 years. This, and the talents of the company, promise to keep it fuelled for the next fifteen — and beyond. Artistic director, Elric Hooper is supported by 34 full-time staff, 16 fulltime actors and presents an average of 15 productions a year. The company is based at the Arts Centre, Christchurch, and information can be ob-

tained by telephoning 795-264. If the travellers feel that they may not be able to patronise one of the professional companies due to a restrictive travelling schedule, they are likely to stumble across one of the hundreds of amateur theatre clubs scattered throughout New Zealand. A vast majority of these groups are not to be thought of as people “just having fun.” Many of these clubs attain top standards and show a professionalism akin to their more heralded professional cousins. Many of these groups are under the umbrella of the N.Z. Theatre Federation. It was formed in 1970 from an amalgam of the British Drama League and the N.Z. Drama Council, in an effort to gain financial advantage by a pooling of the resources of the two organisations which were catering principally for functions which were being duplicated, bringing

under one administration a body representing all amateur theatre in New Zealand. The services that the Federation offer their members include a playscript hire library, numerous tuition classes and workshops including resi-

dential summer schools and youth schools. The annual competitive play festival is considered a highlight for competing groups. Any enquiries can be lodged with the Head Office of N.Z.T.F., P.O. Box 6158, Wellington. So, while travelling can

mean climbing mountains, restaurant dining, photographing the country’s unbeatable scenery or taking in tourist attractions, those who enjoy an evening of live theatre can rest assured we have “a bitta culture” in no small way.