SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 502, 8 May 1909, Page 10

SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL

A CREAT NATIONAL THEATRE. DETAILS OF SCHEME. The report drawn up by the Executive jommittco 6f the Shakespeare Memorial Comnitteo in accordance with the reference made thorn that they should carefully investigate tho practical aspects of the proposal :-hat tho Shakespeare Momorial should tako ;ho form of o National Shakespeare Theatre \tates that they are of opinion that tho proposal is a practicable 0110, and that it should >o proceeded with. Tho opinions of Mr. Troo, Mr. Goorgo. Alexander, and Mr. Bourchier on this decision ire in tho main sympathetic. The most de;ailed criticism comes from Mr. Bourchier, vho on some points expresses himself with :ha.raetcristie independence and courage, riotibly 'as to the risk of adopting the sugges;ion that upon tho governing board of tho >roposed theatre there should bo a woman. Objects of proposed Theatre. The following are the leading features of LJi'o report of thie. Executivo Committee. Vfter' stating their views that tho proposal ;hat the Shakespeare Memorial should take ;ho form of a national Shakespeare Theatre s. a practicable one, and. that it bo pro'.eeded with, they go on tq say:—". "The. objects of a National Shakespeare theatre] as conceived'by your committee, ire:— ' ' '■' ' : ' ' "To keep tho' plays of Shakerpeare in its ' repertory; ; " * ' "To revive whatever else is vital in English classical drama.; "To prevent recent 1 plays, of great merit : from falling into the oblivion; to which ;.. tho present, theatrical ■ system is apt to consign them; , f'To produco new plays arid to further ihe development of tile modern drama; "To produce translations of representative works of foreign; drama; ancient and modern;' : ■ ■ . "To stimulate tho art of acting through .'.tho'varied opportunities' which it will offer to tho members of its company." ' "To accomplish thoso purposes' tho theat'r< llust be organised upon a true rcpertorj system.; It must produce a great variety if plays, and tho productions, whilo simple nust : be ollioiont' and beautiful.' According' y, the estimates includo such a liberal onlowment as shall free the directorato fron ill temptation to sacrilico its_ artistio policj ;o tile making of largo and immediate proits. • _ . ■ 1 ■. . "¥our committeo trust that the establish' nent of tho National Shakespeare. Theatre n the metropolis will generally, advance the iroductkm and appreciation or tho natioua lrama in tho great cities of tho Empire Choy are of opinion that tho time has nol irrived for framing draft statutes in.aifora fhich could bo considered final, but; tboj mve been able to report as follows:— "1. They aro of opinion that tho sum re mired to build, equip, and endow a Nationa. theatre Would be about £§00,000, and thai ;his amount should bo roughly, allotted ,ii ;he following mannerr ■ ■;, £ i (a) Site ... • ... .'■• ... ... .£IOO,OOO (b) Building ... • ' ... ... £100,000 (c) Stage and; equipment ... £50,000 i (d) Endowment , ..; ... £250,000. ; "Any saving in items (ft), (b), or (c), oi rtiy increase in the total sum, should b< idded to tho endowment. fund." | 1 Covcrnlng Body. :. .- ..The Executive Committee go on tb> suggest ;hat in order to provide for the legal ownerihip of tho theatre and of tho' endOwffienl 'mi. stops should, bo taken for ,'tho - incorporation of tho governing ; body ( and thai thesupremo -' controlling .authority of. th< ,hoatro should bo a body of governors ,tc )e appointed by tho Crowns tho university >f tho Dnited Kingdom, the Royal Academy ;ho British Academy, tho' London Countj Council, the . City Corporation, and. tilt nuuicipalities of Manchester, Liverpool, Bri& ibl,' Glasgow, ' Birmingham, ; Leeds, -Bdiajurgh, and Dublin. . Tbey : :fnrthor ; propow that the' following _ representatives of the mlf-govoming colonies be, ftA-ollsuio govern' >rs: Tho High Commissioners, for Callada Australia, and any other federated colonies md the Ambassador of the: United States ilso that tho cx-ollicio governors should !&■ Judo the President of tho' Board of;Educa;ion, tho Minister of Fino'Arts, iii tho even! >f such an office being created, tho chair mari of the Shakospeare.'Meihbrial Associa tion. Stratford-on-Avoii| and;, tho, presidon; 3f the Academy of Dramatic "Arti They arO of opinion that the-governor! ihus appointed should co-opt additional gov arnors in the proportion of ono •;to over; three of-their number; to hold ,-office fo; bhreo years. One at least of-these eo-opte< governors Bhould be a wpman. : ;. ' . Tho oommittee next give suggestions: foi the administration of tho proposed theatre for the appointment of a director and lead ing members of - tho staff generally. \ .The; jo. on to say.: ■■. , ". "They consider that, the arrangement 0 i.lie prnzr.imme should rest with the director who should submit it for approval to th culiiniivwso;: arid. that . all new < play Should bo reported upoti by the director aiii tho literary manager beforo being finall; dealt with by tho standing committee.; A Repertory. ■ "Following the precedorit of all nationa theatres, thoV theatre Should bo a repertory theatre, designed, - built, ' and. equipped foi this purpose, and tho company, both in re spect of number and of qualification, shoulc bo suited to the presentation of a repertory and; in order that thero should bo no doub as to tho meaning-attached to the phrase it seems desirable.to state that a repertor; tli'eatro should be held to moan a thcatr< dblo to" presentj' and which should present ftt least two - different .'plays of full longtl at ovening performances in' each' week, am aVloast 'tbree different plays at evening per formances and matinees taken'together. Oni at least of such weekly performances shoulc be a performance of an English'classical play Shakespeare's plays. should bo given on ai average of at least one'a week; and tho num bor of plays presented in a year Bhould bo nt fewer than 26 plays; of full -length. 'A pia; of fuiriengtli means a play o<wupyiug a least two-thirds of ,'tho wjiole tamo of an; given performance. But two two-act plays or three one-act plays,. composing a singl programme, should for tho' purpose of ' tni, Statute, be reckoned as equivalent to a pla; of full length. ' ■ "They recommend'that^"-whilst the arts o musio and pantomime ntay bo freely uso< when necessary, the repertory should oon sist of pieces in which tho dramatic and no' tho musical element is predominant. "They-consider .that'tliero would : be ad Vantage -in arranging that ; the ■ Nations Shakespeare Theatre; should give perform ances in tho towns of Great Britain ant Ireland ai well as iin London. "They are of opinion that there should b< a pension fund attached to tho theatre, to lx raised and'administered as tho governon should determine." Donation of £70,000. Tho meoting of the General Committe< was'tlio occasion of a pleasant .surprise, foi the Lord Mayor was ablo to annoitnco thai an anonymous' donor ; had given £70,000 to wards the £500,000 required. ■ Tho report o! tho eseoutive committeo was adopted, and ( resolution empowering the committeo to givi effect to' it aud raiso money ill,tho country was passed. Tlio Lord Mayor, who presided at th< meeting, immediately moved, "That tins meeting of tho General Committee of th< Shakespeare Memorial is of opinion that th< proposal that tlio Shakespeare Momoria! should tako tho form of a national Shakes pearo theatre is a practicable form, arid thai it be proceeded tyitli," . • • Tho resolution was adopted without discus slori. Without commont tho committee ap proved tlie suggestion that tho estimate . ol £200,000 should he roughly allotted as foi lows:—Site £100,000,' building £100,000 stago' ati'd equipment £50,000, endo\vmenl £250,000. _ . Oil tho proposition of Mr..Luthor Munday seconded by Mr. Acton Bond, it was agroet to recommend that the title should .hi "Shakespeare.National Theatre."