PROFESSIONAL THEATRE Repertory To Spend £14,000 On Changes

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31092, 22 June 1966, Page 18

PROFESSIONAL THEATRE Repertory To Spend £14,000 On Changes

The Canterbury Repertory Society announced plans yesterday for spending £14,000 on its theatre in Kilmore street to convert it to an intimate theatre for both amateur and professional productions.

Mr T. A. Kincaid, the society’s president, said that the £ll,OOO needed for structural alterations would be sought from private individuals, and £3OOO needed for an improved lighting system would be sought from the New Zealand Theatre Centre.

The society had announced its plan for a Canterbury Theatre Centre several years ago, and was now ready to establish a trust board to administer the affairs of the professional group, which would share the centre with the Repertory Society,

Members of the board would be announced in about a month. To enable the amateur and professional groups to plan together, at least one member of the Repertory Society would be on the board.

Mr Kincaid said the Repertory Theatre would be closed late in November for the alterations. While it was closed the society’s amateur productions would be presented elsewhere. The theatre would reopen in June next year with the new professional group’s first production.

Seating in the theatre would be reduced from the present 700 in the stalls and circle to a total of 480, all in the stalls. “This will be more than adequate for the professional body to operate economically,” said Mr Kincaid, “and it will be adequate seating for the amateur society.” Some of the back stalls would be removed to provide room for a vestibule with ticket box, and a large foyer equipped as a comfortable lounge with coffee-bar facilities.

At present the seats are in three blocks running down to the stage. To make sure that every seat is a good one, the new arrangement will be two blocks of seats with a centre aisle and two aisles against the walls.

A movable apron will be installed to extend the stage 13ft into the theatre from the proscenium. It will be capable of adjustment to accommodate an orchestra.

The present seats in the circle will be removed, and that floor adapted to provide a completely sound-proofed rehearsal room, 30ft 6in by 23ft 6in, which will be used for small productions. A separate entrance will mean that it can be used while a play is running in the main theatre. Also in the reconstructed circle will be a room for furniture, furnishings and properties. The front of the building will be modernised and well-

lit. Tentative plans are for a squared-off false front to hide the present ornate facade. Mr Kincaid said there were no plans at present for backstage alterations, but money would be raised for these once the present plans had been accomplished. "We feel there is a future for professional theatre in Christchurch," said Mr Kincaid, “especially as the professional board will be planning regional tours to the West Coast, Kaikoura and South Canterbury.” He said no name had been chosen for the professional group yet That and the selection of a director, would be one of the board's first tasks.