THE AMATEUR THEATRE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 21, Issue 535, 23 September 1949, Page 5

THE AMATEUR THEATRE

Sir,-Mr. Muir and others interested in amateur drama groups may be interested to hear of the existence in Dunedin of a group known as the Dominie Players. This group was originally formed in 1947 from active members of the Dunedin Training College Drama Club, primarily for the purpose of undertaking a holiday tour of Central Otago. The play selected was Sutton Vane’s Outward Bound: On the 10 days occupied with touring six performances were given. Two Dunedin performances were also given before leaving. The play was well received and houses were good. The tour was repeated in May, 1948, when the play chosen was James Bridie’s Tobias and the Angel. Readers familiar with Bridie’s plays will appreciate the staging difficulties involved. Four complete changes of set are required. That this was accomplished successfully, illustrates the point that set need not necessarily limit play selection when ‘deciding on a suitable play for touring. Five

performances were given. An extra performance in Dunedin concluded the tour, S This year no tour was undertaken, but in January, 1950, a summer tour extending over 14 days is planned. The number of performances scheduled is 10. This will give a greater coverage, and will mean at least one town not visited previously. The number of persons involved in the tours may be of interest: 1947, 14; 1948, 16. Since its inception in 1947, the membership of the Dominie Players has developed from being purely a teachers’ group to something much broader. Included on the next tour will be members from Otago University Drama Club, and Dunedin Repertory Society. In view of the space devoted to drama jn a recent issue, I hope this letter gives some additional, information about an active small group. It may also interest your readers that a private group, financially unaided, has successfully planned and accomplished these two tours of country districts,

N.A.

PARSLOE

(Dunedin),