FESTIVAL OF DRAMA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22172, 27 July 1935, Page 10 (Supplement)

FESTIVAL OF DRAMA

SPECIAL JUVENILE SECTION EXPERIENCE OF ADJUDICATOR A special section for teams under the r age of 14 years has beon created for the Auckland Festival of Community I Drama in September. Thiß will bo in | addition to the section for pi.ay org under 16, in which such fine work has been displayed each year. It is . stated that the standard of plays already chosen for presentation during the festival indicates that tho competition this year will be easily the finest yet held. Great interest has been taken in the announcement thut Mr. Kenneth Brampton is to act ns adjudicator this year. Mr. Brampton's association with theatrical activities in Auckland is wellknown. He was producer and organiser of the Little Theatre Society for many years, and lie has since been seen in several productions. Following his departure from Auckland ho spent some weeks at the Elstree film studios and was later engaged as stage director by J. C. Williamson's. He played Dr. Chambers in " The Barretts of Wimpolo Street," and also appeared in " Dr. Pygmalion," " The Good Fairy," and " Happy and Glorious." Then followed an engagement with the Australian Broadcasting Company and Mr. Brampton's appearance opposite Cecil Kellaway in the film " Hayseeds." This was followed by work as dialogue director for J. C. Williamson's next film, "Splendid Fellows." Until quite recently Mr. Brampton had been playing with Grace lane whom he joined to take the part of Dr. Harvester in " Sacred Flame." He also played in " Old Folks at Home," which was followed by " Sixteen." Advice has been received that Miss Elizabeth Blake, who acted as judge last year, has beon invited to give a series of lectures on the Drama at Manchester College, Oxford, and also at tho Drama School in Pasadena, California, on her way back to New Zealand early in September. Miss Blak<* has been attending a conference of the British Drama Leaguo in England.