AMATEUR ART

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 146, 22 June 1934, Page 7

AMATEUR ART

MUSIC AND; "DRAMA

CLASHING OF FIXTURES

With iv y,iew to co-ordinating, so as to avoid as'faf as possible-the clashing of fixture's,-a-representative meeting of musical and theatrical societies arid kindred organisations in Wellington and tho.VHutt;;Valley was' held ,la>t night. The question of establishing "a central' was : also ' ,dis; cussed. '■'■.*■ i> ■■(> . ; , . [_ ; , After a; : full discussion; on.. both, subt jects it was decided that-an information bureau be set up with the object of receiving and recording information from the various societies in Wellington and the suburbs as to'the dates of their respective, performances. Mr. N. T. Gillespie (Garrick Players) presided. .' . '. Other organisations i were: —Wellington Kepertory Theatre, Wellington area of the British Drama League, Thespians, Operatic Society, Wadestpwn Leisure Society, Harmonic Society, Chpral Society, and the Garrick PlayqrsV//^ ""■?{-,<''..-'..■,, '/ ! ' A CONTRAIL ORGANISATION. Mr. Gillespie. said that-the,,main, object of the .meeting was to try to overcome the clashing; of. fixtures,' but it was also thought that the question of instituting.'a central organisation should be discussed. ■ ; r ~• - ■ ■■;■'• ; Mr. V. Lloyd (Thespians X said he felt that in-New Zealand there .was a need for a central;organisation to which;vthe various'non-professional societies in the country could send thejr programmes for the year or the'season as the case might \>e,~ In this way the clashing of fixtures would be avoided. In addition, if amateur dramatic societies were notified-of musical fixtures well in advance "members J would no Soubt .make an effort to. atteiid them, and similarly members of musical societies would en 7 deavour to be' present' at dramatic events.,. Arising out of the suggestion of forming a central body was the question of exchange of scenery, but this was a very ticklish-point. There would be a tendency for the small organisations to lean upon .the larger, and more wealthy in this respect. Regarding scenery, he thought most of the work should be done by members themselves.;;;; The-bare material only should be paid.J-for., The construction and .painting should' be. done, by the sbcieties, and' if\this,was done it was not fair f or. otiher'^organisations to reap the benefits"; qf : ' their labours. The question of technical'^assistanceV..in,respect to literature was -also a -yital 'one.' He did not think .there! wasTariy* society which could afford to", purchase a' eomprehen sive library of technical works, but if all organisations co-operated this could bo done, and the books could be lent out. There were some yolumes dealing with scenery design costing between three and five guineas each, which societies should have but which they /could not afford. He would like to. see the ■idea of a central organisation extended throughout' New Zealand. , ' ; AN EXCELLENT SCHEME. Mr.:'G. H. A.. Swan (Wellington Repertory Theatre) said that co-ordina-tion irt regard to fixtures was an excellent'scheme, but he did not think it was proper for the meeting'.to-envisage a central organisation. The idea'was a good- one, but it should be dealt with at a meeting of. repertory and kindred societies throughout New Zealand. ••■As to the dates of performances he thought the most' practical method would be to appoint a person to act as secretary for all organisations, 'and as each society was able to'inake its fixtures it could send a list of them-to that person. Societies would then: khow>to whom to apply when seeking^ information ' regarding fixtures of other bodies. . A SIMILAR On behalf of the Choral Society Mr. Chartres said he agreed; with the advisability of' formulating some plan to avoid the clashing of fixtures. The idea, generally,.however, was not a. new one. It was attempted by various musical bodies in Wellington, but the difficulties were many. . .- ■ • Mr. W. E. Caldow, a member of the same organisation, said that the scheme, which was suggested some "years ago, was principally in connection with the engaging of artists and a library. After two or three meetings were held, however, difficulty was experienced regarding the co-operation of other centres. Funds, too, proved a stumbling block. Mr. Gillespio agreed that there were many difficulties in the way, particularly in regard to a Dominion organisation. If a central organisation was instituted in Wellington otlier centres might adopt a similar idea. ■',-■'. After further discussion a resolutionon the lines suggested by Mr. Swan was carried, and Mr. P. Keesing (Wellington Area of. the "British Drama League) was appointed bureau secretary. . ' : ■' ; . On the motion of Mr. W. A. Jamieso'n (Operatic Society) it was also "decided that all® 1 societies be informed of ■ the meeting's recommendation, and that a subscription of 5s per year be invited to cover expenses. . .