COUNTRY DRAMA

New Zealand Listener, Volume 15, Issue 379, 27 September 1946, Page 17

COUNTRY DRAMA

Sir,-Judith Terry in a recent 2YA broadcast on the Country Drama Movement made a kindly but very impractical Suggestion. It was that town repertory groups might adopt the country groups giving them the benefit of their experience. But since there are really hundreds of country drama circles, say a hundred to every city club, it couldn’t be done. What would.happen to the Tawa Gully club when it learned that Wellington Repertory had adopted Fern Tree Flat! Another thing which makes the giving of practical help difficult is. that the country clubs exist only to entertain, their members, excepting for six weeks of the year, when they are preparing for their festivals. Yet the fact that these clubs exist in their hundreds is important to New Zealand culture, and it’s time some: official encouragement should be given them. Something run by the Education Department is indicated, for it is a pity to allow strongly organised bodies of people with artistic leanings to waste their energies for want of experienced advisers. Since the Glubs get few opportunities to see good theatre, subsidised visits from leading city clubs would nearly fill the bill. They would at least get a standard of comparison, the lack of which Mrs. Terry deplored in her talk. Het own contribution in lifting the standard of choice of play, performance, and sudb tat ahs homie anythi but neg e. seems tc of the few people who realise thd urge of thé countrywoman to express herself in an art which, with a little help, can become an achievement of | creat value in the cultural life of the!

country.

THESPIS

(Auckland). |