Theatre group to focus on small-scale productions

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 679, 25 March 1997, Page 16

Theatre group to focus on small-scale productions

Bringing theatre to the people rather than people to the theatre is the latest idea of the Waiouru Amateur Theatre Society (WATS). Although WATS is unable to mount a full-scale production at present, they have decided to offer their talented services to various organisations in the form of murder mysteries. For the uninitiated, a "murder" is committed dur-

ing dinner and the guests become the detectives in order to solve the mystery. WATS members interact with the guests to set the scene and facilitate the crime solution. Spokesperson Chris Hodkinson said that they have already had enquiries for their murder mystery nights from one of the units in Waiouru. The decision to concentrate on what they can do with their

relatively small group has also led to ideas of setting up costume hire in the area. Donations of possible props will be called for once the system gets off the ground, so readers are asked to keep all those wonderful costume items a little while longer. The possibility of organising bus trips to Palmerston North and Wanganui for dinner and a show is also on the agenda and information on this notion will be posted later. A series of club nights, where different aspects of theatre will be highlighted, will be held over the coming year. Themes will be as diverse as charades, theatre sports and improvisation. Further suggestions are very welcome, as are new members and even the return of previous members interested in the newlook WATS. For further information, contact Chris Hodkinson on 387-6660 (or 387-61 1 1 Ext 7 1 6 1 ) or Lindsay Amner on 387-61 1 1 Ext 7052.