News from The New Zealand Theatre Federation Inc. www.theatrenewzealand.co.nz B A C K C H More details about our weekend in Nelson on page 5 A T Volume 34 Issue 3 June 2011 President’s Column Dear Members, Festival time is here again and it is very pleasing To all the teams participating in the various to report that there will be 37 presentations rounds of this year’s Festival of Community performed over the next six weeks, the largest Theatre may I wish you all well and may you all number for many years.. It is particularly pleasing get out of the Festival as to see 9 entries in Invercargill and 9 also in much as you put in. Christchurch. We welcome the Bay of Plenty Festival of Community Theatre with 4 presentations. Let’s hope this generates further interest for another Ewen D Coleman Festival there next year. See details page 4-5. National President Read about the National Final weekend in sunny Nelson 5/6 August on page 5. The AGM will be the first under the new constitution with officers and executive of NZTF elected from member groups New Members and where proxy votes will be allowed. I hope that all members (groups, schools, individuals and We welcome the following new members Life Members) have given consideration to the nominations with the possibility of nominating Groups: someone from their area and if unable to attend Kaiapoi High School the AGM they will give their proxy vote to another Katikati Theatre Inc member who is attending. Limelight Theatre Company, Carterton Marlborough Girls College Tolaga Bay Area School The 7 District Festivals, 3 Regional Finals and the Waihi Drama Society National Final would not be possible without the Individual: support of groups assisting with the organising of Sherilyn Hellier, Oamaru these Festivals and the individuals within these groups who put in many hours work running them, And a note to other members - HAVE YOU PAID YOUR SUB? Invoices ($100 for groups and $40 for individuals) were all voluntarily. I would like to give a great big sent out with the April Backchat. heartfelt thanks to these people as without their time and effort Festivals would not be possible Whether you pay by cheque or direct credit please take and teams would not experience the fun and time to fill out the form ensuring legibility. Fill in all the excitement of participating in a Festival. fields as we want our records up to date and post it to PO.Box 329 Palmerston North 4441 straight away. Thanks. But Festivals are not all the Executive of NZTF has been concerning itself with of late. Following our library’s sad closure we have been working with Contents Playmarket to ensure that any of their client based scripts that weren’t in their online catalogue now President’s Column, New Members, Subs 2 are. Hard copies of scripts from our Library that weren’t clients of Playmarket are being held by Profiles: Te Puke Rep. and Paeroa L T. 3 them in the May Ives Collection and a catalogue Festival of Community Theatre: Districts 4 of these will be on NZTF’s web site. And work is Regional Festivals and National Final 5 progressing on updating our web site. Plans are exciting and innovative and it is hoped to be able to Scripts from Playmarket 6 launch the new website at the AGM. What’s On 7 Congratulations, New NZTF Treasurer Needed 8 2 Te Puke Repertory Society Profile Paeroa Little Theatre Profile Material supplied by Pam Chapman Material supplied by Leanne Smith Te Puke Repertory has been a very active and The Paeroa Little Theatre was inaugurated in 1945, so successful theatre group in Te Puke since 1952. like the “Lemon & Paeroa” drink that made this rural town famous, we have been around ‘since ages ago’. For many years meetings and rehearsals were Back in those days the theatre was an amalgamation conducted in private homes waiting for opening night of all theatrical pursuits from magic shows, music, at the Memorial Hall or High School Hall preceded by a contortionists, vaudeville, singing and dancing as well great rush to build a set just a day or two beforehand. as acting. In 1968 Te Puke High School Principal and enthusiastic Membership was strong up to the nineties and member Lionel Litt, decided that a surplus classroom our theatre building was purchased and built in at the primary school should be donated to the local 1991. Unfortunately since 1994 our numbers have theatre group and he had it transported to his school decreased and today it is much quieter — but with grounds The building called Litt Park Theatre is owned just as much enthusiasm. Our small band of players by the High School with Rep as long-term leaseholders and committee members endeavour to produce one and it has served our theatre ever since. play a year. We have always set a high standard of production. We Last November we produced a local panto, The Pirate hold workshops with top facilitators such as Miranda that Jumped an interactive show for ages 8 years Harcourt. We have held Directors’ workshops and have and under, that was enjoyed immensely by 580 local participated in many area festivals in the past. A one children. act play is a great starting point for a novice director or for an experienced director who wants to try something different. Our next production is Little Red Riding Hood in July. An enthusiastic all age cast of nearly 30 members is having fun bringing the story to life. Entertaining our community with high quality performances is our first priority but making everyone comfortable is also very important. We have recently installed insulation in the ceiling, purchased new We keep our regular audience happy by sprinkling a heaters and our next project is to acquire more few traveling theatre shows and readings throughout comfortable seating. the year, as well running very popular silent movie nights – we have a talented local pianist who plays Litt Park Theatre is like Te Puke, small but with heart – the original score, along with sound effects from the it has character and a comment often heard is ‘we love 1920’s. the atmosphere’. This year we are working on a production of The Odd Couple (women’s version) and are scheduling a silent You are very welcome to visit us any time. movie for the children, to offer them a totally new experience without the technology of today. 3 Entries in Festival of Community Theatre 2011 OTAGO / SOUTHLAND DISTRICT TOP OF THE SOUTH DISTRICT Swagga Sistaz: Marlborough Repertory and Marlborough Girls’ College: Kick Ya Swag by Ana Notoa and Lesae Tagamoa. Bar and Ger by Geraldine Aron. Dir. Pauline Smith. A contemporary Pacific Island comedy. Dir. Mariette Dodd. Poem/Play. Southland Boys’ High School (Pegasus): Dramatix Theatre Development Trust: I Read The News Today by Willy Russell. Cod of War by Scott Frater (Dir). Comedy. Dir. Gussie Johnson. Black Comedy. Dramatix Theatre Development Trust: Columba College: White Noise by TJ Ramsay (Dir). Thriller. The Rosenberg Sisters by Michelanne Forster. Dramatix Theatre Development Trust: Dir. Erina Caradus. Drama. Resident Evil by TJ Ramsay (Dir). Play. Invercargill Repertory Society: Dramatix Theatre Development Trust: If I Said You Have A Heavenly Body by Andre Surridge. Nylons and Knicker Elastic by TJ Ramsay (Dir). Play. Dir. Aisha Williams. Comedy. Dramatix Theatre Development Trust: Invercargill Repertory — Lizzie’s Group: The Essence of Grey by Scott Frater (Dir). Drama. Mourning Calls by Troy Shearer. Dir. Lizzie Dawson. Comedy. WELLINGTON DISTRICT Invercargill Repertory: A Talk in the Park by Alan Ayckbourn. Khandallah Arts Theatre: Dir. Gussie Johnson. Comedy. Night Bird by Clare Kelso. Invercargill Intermediate Repertory: Dir. Peter Clemerson. Drama. Bonds by Allan Mackay. Dir. Alex Shaw. MANAWATU DISTRICT Invercargill Intermediate Repertory: Feilding High School: In the Blood by Helen Wyngard. Dir. Lindsay Rodmell. Adapt devised by Karla Crofts (Dir) & Yr 13. Invercargill Intermediate Repertory: Drama/Physical Theatre. All My Love Paul by Allan Mackay Dir. Charlotte Shaw Wanganui High School CANTERBURY / WEST COAST DISTRICT Cow by Jo Randerson. Dir. Catherine Richardson. Kaiapoi High School: HAWKE’S BAY DISTRICT Othello by Shakespeare. Keirunga Homestead Theatre – The Drama Workshop: Dir. Brent Morrison and Rebecca Swanson. Drama. Ivy Shambitt and the Sound Machine by Daniel Evans. Pierrot Theatre: Dir. Juliet Cottrell. Drama. Jigsaw by Bruce Goodman. Dir Dinie Bevers. Drama. Pahiatua Repertory Society: Pierrot Theatre: Me and My Friend by Gilliam Plowman. Ritual For Dolls by George MacEwan Green. Dir. Peter Lea. Drama. Dir. Dinie Bevers. Drama. Napier Repertory Players: Lincoln High School: Andrea Karras by David Moore (Dir). Drama. A Rose So Red by Samantha Ryder (Dir). Drama. Napier Repertory Players: Lincoln High School: Shadow Self by Andre Surridge. Dir. Ian Claridge. Drama. Math for Actors by Emily C A Snyder. Napier Repertory Players: Dir. Alicia Wichman. Comedy. Living Work of Art by Philip Bentley. Dir. Ian Claridge. Drama. Lincoln High School: Napier Repertory Players: Chook Chook by Fiona Farrell. Thistle Blossoms by Roseanna Beth Whitlow. Dir. Kathryn Amyes. Comedy/Drama. Dir. Anne Corney. Drama. St Bede’s College: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. BAY OF PLENTY DISTRICT Dir. Ruth Sullivan. Comedy. Tolaga Bay Area School and Kuranui: Elmwood Players: Henry VIII by Shakespeare. Dir. Julie Radice. Drama. Dead Man Talking by Deborah Makarios. Kawerau College Drama Group: Dir. Colin McKinney and Aimee Borlase. Comedy. The Least Offensive Play in the Whole Darn World by Elmwood Players: Jonathan Rand. Dir. Morehu Solomon. Drama. Horst Buchholz and Other Stories by Matthew Wilkien. Theatre Whakatane: Dir.