AMATEUR DRAMA

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 39, 9 November 1938, Page 8

AMATEUR DRAMA

Suggestions For Reform

NEW ZEALAND CONDITIONS

Repertory societies 'have received a communication from the headquarters of the 'New Zealand branch of the British Drama League, giving the information that it requires £lOO for salaries and suggesting that a national council be formed with other societies, including the repertory societies and the 'Workers’ Educational Association. This “SO:S” from the league has been considered by some societies, and out of it has come something constructive. “It has occurred 1 to us” says a circular letter from the Napier Repertory Society, “that certain suggestions should be made with regard to the above, and we would like you to consider the following:—

“We suggest that copies of balancesheets of the past three years be obtained.

“If reform is necessary, as it; very evidently is, we must first review the objective of the drama league. Is the objective a social one, that is to say the formation of small groups from certain strata of society to the exclusion of the general public? Or is it a truly cultural aucl progressive one calculated to catch the interest that is inherent iu any community for its own and exclusive. If the second, then this society cannot support a movement which will become in tiuie, what it is ou the way to becoming now, precious and exclusive. If the second, then this society will support it whole-heartedly. We consider that the drama league must satisfy the various groups of its cultural and progressive policy before a national council is possible. “Reform should come from within and not from without. If a society fails, the reason must be looked for in that society. To increase its size by the incorporation of other groups will only result in failure on a larger scale. Public SupiKirt Essential. “If is an absolute necessity to regain the pulilie support. By this, wo do not mean the interest of a few who have friends on the stage, but. the enthusiasm that can be and lias been aroused in an artistic achievement. Big audiences are an essential, and we consider that it will be necessary for the national council to convince the general public that they will get more pleasure from the theatre than from the cinema. There is a body of opinion that bewails the fact that the public lias no interest in drama. IVe believe that the reason for this is that some protagonists of drama have no interest in it themselves. Where they have, (we think of Canada as an instance), the public has not hesitated to give support. There is a definite need in the drama league for better production, and above all. better plays. We must deline (he word “better’ as we mean" it. 11 is exceedingly dillieiilt to define this word, but from the point of view of the drama league the objective, in comedy tragedy or tragi-eomedy should be to give the audience an experience. In fuel, the aim of selection committee, producer, and cast, should be to move the audience. We consider that this should be the final and only objective of any drama society.” A council of adjudicators is also suggested hi the circular letter, and a list of persons considered to have tlio necessary qualifications is set out. These are Professors Shelley and Sewell, Dean Weatherhog, Messrs. A. Goodwin. E. Lowe, W. Wiiueliop, Helen Gard'ner, Victor Lloyd, W. Deticbar, MeKail Geddes, ami 'May MacDonald.