THEATRICAL VENTURE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11163, 20 March 1922, Page 7

THEATRICAL VENTURE

HUGH J. WARD THEATRES RESIGNATION FROM J. O. WILLIAMSON, LTD. ASSOCIATION WITH FULLERS’. Mr Hugh J. Ward, who reoently resigned from the directorate of Messrs J. C. Williamson, Ltd., has announced his proposals for the future. In association with Messrs Ben and John Fuller, Ltd., he will form a new company, to be called the Hugh J. Ward Theatres, Ltd., which will produce all types of theatrical entertainment in Australia and New Zealand.

After referring to the brief period which Sir Benjamin and Mr John Fuller and himself had occupied in completing the details of a big theatrical scheme in Australia and New Zealand, Mr Ward spoke to an Australian pressman as follows: “We intend to form a company, to be known as the Hugh J. Ward Theatres, Ltd. I will be chairman of directors, and Sir Benjamin and Mf John Fuller and myself will be managing directors. lam glad to have the association of my two friends, and, al- ! though they will not be able to give all , their time to this particular organisation owing to their immense vaudeville interests, they will he behind me as the directing force in this scheme, and I will have the benefit of their sound advice and well-known theatrical know- , ledge. TWO NEW THEATRES. ; “We propose to build two new then- ! tres in Sydney. The site has already j been secured for one, and both will be | in the central part of the city. I i personally nope in the future to ar- | range for the use of the Grand Opera 1 House. Tffe Opera House I hope to ! use for pantomimes, big spectacles, and ! all sorts of great theatrical subjects. ’ “The Princess Theatre in Melbourne, ; probably the finest theatre as regards architecture in this country, will he modernised and beautified to be on a - par with any theatre of its kind in the world. The Palace Theatre, in the same city, will also be treated on the same lines, and - Melbourne will thus have two thoroughly up-to-date theatres.

“When we had completed our scheme it seemed that a magic wand had opened up all Australia and New Zealand, for I had then at any time Her Majesty’s and the Royal, Perth; the Prince of Wales, Adelaide; the Empire. Brisbane; the Opera House, Auckland; His Majesty’s, Wellington; the Opera House and a new theatre to be bout in Christchurch; His Majesty’s ’ and the Princess. Dunedin; and the Victoria, Newcastle. ALL-EMBRACING SCHEME. “This permits of extraordinary mobility, and without this affiliation I would have had to stop at Sydney and Melbourne only. But this all-embrac-ing scheme permits ns to cover all the important centres of Australia and New Zealand.” Mr Ward emphasised that Hugh J. Ward Theatres. Ltd., would have no connection with the vaudeville enterprises of Messrs Ben and John Fuller, Ltd., which would be carried on as heretofore. Messrs B. and J. Fuller, Ltd,, were associated with him in regard to theatres and finance.

The new company would indulge in every type of entertainment, from farce to (grand opera, and 1 would also go in into the oonoeerb business on a very big scale, to be announced later. ,r I can only say,” added Mr Ward, “that J am indeed pleased to have completed tide new arrangement, due to my long friendship and association with Sir Benjamin and Mr John Fuller, apd I amp quite sure that Australia and New Zealand wiM benefit by the new organisation.

LEAVING FOR. ENGLAND. ‘ J Shall leave for FngWwt shortly to complete certain arrangements for plays and players. On Thursday night I am to leave for Melbourne to give instructions in oonmection with the Palace and the Prinoeas Theatres. %amto be joined on Friday by Sir Benjamin Fuller, when details for the beautification of iha theatres will be finalised.” Sir Benjamin Fuller, in a brief statement, expressed hispleasrare at being associated with Mr Hugh Ward, whom he had known for the post 24 yearn, S whose abilities as a showman be long admired. His brother and he intended ip the oounse of time to enter Into the .production of the higher c4ms of theatrical entertainment. „ Be would continue, however, bis ,popular vaudeville gbovt. He desired prfoes of admission to be as reasonable as could be afforded.