BRITISH DRAMA LEAGUE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 221, 15 April 1933, Page 4

BRITISH DRAMA LEAGUE

Centra! Taranaki Area PREPARATIONS FOR FESTIVAL Miss Elizabeth Blake to Judge The festival which the Central Taranaki area of the BritishDrama League propose to hold in July or August should create much interest. It is proposed to make the necessary arrangsments for the organisation of groups, each of which will enter one or more teams. The judging will be done bv Miss Elizabeth Blake, of Wellington, who has kindly consented to come to Stratford for the purpose. Miss Blake's extensive experience in the world of the theatre will enable her to give ; most valuable advice to the competitors and the festival should do very much to bring about increased interest • amonq- amateurs and incidentally members of the i public.

. The aim of the British Drama League which has branches throughout the Empire is to assist in the development of the art of the theatre* and to promote a right relation between drama and the life of the community, as well as 'making for greater social intercourse, and bringing about improvement in diction. It seeks to raise the standard of production among amateur • ocietiis by affording them the opportunity of.receivi"g criticism tvrni an Impartial adjudicator, as well as to promote a im'-h standard of dramatic appreciation among audiences and to encourago the progressive element in the 'aran* t.eur theatre. Teams which enter the festival must consist wholly of amateurs, although if it should be desired a. professional producer mav be engaged and paid to produce. The work offered must be a one-act play or an extract from a longer plnv, but must not take more than 40 minutes to perform and no play may have less than three speaking parts. No individual player may perform! for more than one group or society entering th« festival. In the judging points will be given on the following system of marks:

Acting.—4o. Production. —30. Stage Presentation. —10. Dramatic Endeavour.—2o.

It may be pointed out that no difficulty will be experienced in procuring "plays. There are many available which can be obtained at a trifling cost. Particulars of these can be obtained from the local secretary, Mrs. Uniacke. There is no reason why any group should not present an original play so long as the performance does not exceed 40 minutes and there, arc three or more speaking parts. Drama or comedy may be played and the casts may be mixed or all of one sex. A public meeting will be held in the Municipal Chambers at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, when members will be sought for the local area. Only members may compete at the festival. , ... It is proposed that those desiring to compete form themselves into groups, each group undertaking, it* own management and staging its own production, in the same way as is done at competitions. Groups will have representation on the executive. Already several country centres and some town organisations are preparing to form groups, and very great interest is being taken in the movement which is making 'splendid strides in all parts of New Zealand In addition to Stratford festivals will be held in Hawera and New Plymouth during the next few months. while in other provinces they have already been held and have been most successful in all cases.