LIVING THEATRE ENJOYING GREAT POPULARITY

Chronicle (Levin), 20 June 1947, Page 4

LIVING THEATRE ENJOYING GREAT POPULARITY

The living theatre was enjoying great popularity at present, not only little theatre and repertory societies,' but also the more professional (?ompanies, but the drama which seemed to him to be really important was that presented by the thousands of small groups throughout the country, said the adjudicator, Mr. W. J. Mountjoy, when speaking c^uring the course of the Southern Wellington Federation of Women's Institutes' twelfth annual festival. "It is the participation in the actual work of acting, of making costumes and scenery, and of collecting properties, that is so valu-| able," he continued. In this respect the work of the Women's Institutes Was worthy of high praise. 'Tn this area the institutes have kept drama alive throughout the war, and have continued to encourage and „ raise the. standard of productions." • The winning of a cup was not important, said Mr. Mountjoy. What was important was the community effort and the satisfaction of presenting a play. The teams should welcome criticism rather than seek praise. One of the worst features of much of the Dommioil's dramatic -activity was the unjustifled "self-satisfied, complacent, self-congratulatory -attftude of many dramatic societies." One of the greatest values of a festival was the encouragement of a critical attitude in players a'nd the audience.