‘Too Expensive A Luxury’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31121, 26 July 1966, Page 2

‘Too Expensive A Luxury’

Bread and butter must come before jam, and professional theatre on a large scale is a luxury New Zealand cannot afford, according to Mrs Rosalie Carey, who is in Christchurch as judge for the British Drama League festival.

Mrs . Carey firmly believes that no commodity can be sold unless it is wanted, and that theatre here has not a broad enough base to warrant spending large sums to support professional companies. "Many theatre people agree with me that we shouldn’t be spending huge sums on professional theatre now—community needs and welfare work should come first,” Mrs Carey said. The theatre must have roots and tradition through amateur participation from which professional theatre could grow as was the case with the National Theatre in Britain.

“But that took 50 or 60 years,” Mrs Carey emphasised. "Some financial support is very valuable* This could start with pAWslon of a paid producer or one or two paid actors which provides stimulus and excitement for everyone.” For Mrs Carey and her husband, Patrie, the status of theatre in New Zealand is vital, for theirs is an involvement in which the boundaries between stage and home are almost literally non-existent As co-directors of the Globe Theatre in Dunedin they live within a few steps of their theatre, which is an extension of a study in their London street home. Productions in the intimate theatre began tn 1961 and now dressing rooms, wardrobe storage, rehearsal and sewing rooms have taken over much of the house.

“Oh, there’s just never any peace,” sighed Mrs Carey, admitting with a laugh that she finds it all very absorbing and enjoyable. The couple have borne most of the cost of establishing and extending the theatre and work full-time on the project with a core of voluntary helpers and players and the occasional professional performer.

“Many amateur actors have attained an excellent standard and we want to use this talent. Tn a few years we hope to be able to have several paid actors, but just because you pay an actor a salary doesn’t mean he is a professional. That’s a way of thought,” she said. The removal of entertainment tax and payment of playwrights’ royalties by the Arts Council has assisted them greatly. “Royalties are sometimes as much as £5 or £6 a night for the new plays. With this intelligent aid from the Arts Council we have few restrictions on the plays we can produce," she explained. The theatre has recently successfully negotiated for the Australian and New Zealand rights of Peter Weiss’s "Marat/Sade.” Serious, thought-provoking plays have been very well received, and audiences now expect a high standard.

“The Globe's our baby, and the public makes sure we keep up the good work.” Mrs Carey said.