CANTERBURY DRAMA FESTIVAL CENTRED IN TIMARU

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 49, 31 May 1940, Page 24

CANTERBURY DRAMA FESTIVAL CENTRED IN TIMARU

N five areas in Canterbury and the West Coast, plans are maturing for the elimination contests to be held prior to the provincial district semi-final in Timaru, reports the organiser, A. E. Lawrence. From Timaru, which he describes as the strongest centre of community drama in the province, Mr. Lawrence says that

there is enthusiasm throughout the two provinces. In Christchurch an enthusiastic committee of representatives of societies and groups interested in community drama, is hard at work organising a festival which will be held on June 27, 28, and 29, In Timaru, the South Canterbury

Drama League is to stage a festival on July 2, 3, and 4, In Ashburton, the drama enthusiasts of mid-Canterbury will present a number of one-act plays in association with a patriotic effort on June 26, 27 and 28. On the West Coast, a special Centennial Drama Festival Committee was

formed and a drama festival drawing teams from the whole of the West Coast was held in Greymouth on May 25. In the North Canterbury area of the British Drama League, an effort is being made to present a number of plays as a patriotic effort, and to give this area representation in the provincial final. The winning teams at the Christchurch, North Canterbury, South Canterbury, mid-Canterbury and the West Coast area festivals, will meet in the Canterbury-West Coast Provincial Final in Timaru, on July 15. Mr. Lawrence is confident that the Centennial competition, as far as Canterbury and the West Coast are concerned, will produce festivals fully expressive of the interest in drama in these districts.