N.Z. Repertory Theatre Came About Largely As A Matter Of Necessity.

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 1, 12 July 1935, Page 12

N.Z. Repertory Theatre Came About Largely As A Matter Of Necessity.

On the Jleft.is the writer of this article,

W.S.

Wauchop

one of

the founders ‘of the Wellington Repertory Theatre and coproducer with Leo du. Chateau at the present time: Mr. Wauchop returned this year from England and America where he saw many new plays. Photograph by S. P. Andrew.

IIE repertory theatre has become so-iMuch a part of the everyday life of the bigger towns of New Zealand that it is hard to realise- the "ups and downs" experienced by the pioneers of this movement. Not that ‘all our difficulties have dissolved into‘thin airfur from it! But there is no doubt that the repertory movement has now a very firm hold and plays an important part in the cultural life of this country, It all came about largely as a matter of necessity. About the middie of the last decade we found that fewer and fewer theatrical companies were visiting New Zealand, and that ag far as good, modern plays were concerned, we were left destitute. Something was bound to be done. There had been periodic performances by enthusiastic groups of amateurs in various parts of New Zealand from the earliest days; but the efforts of these were too inter'mittent and uncertain to meet the growing demand for good, modern drama, Thanks to the enthusiasm of Mr, and Mrs. HW. J. Bentley, the idea of a repertory theatre first took definite shape in Auckland ; and the first official meeting of what was to become the Auckland Little Theatre Society was held in their flat: An enthusiastic committee was formed, Mr. Bentley was appointed organiser’ and producer,’ and’ the movement was launched. "Manny’s First Play,"- by G, B. Shaw, was their first production--a fitting selection ‘in every respect, oo After My, Bentley’s untimely -death

in 1926, Mr. Joseph M. Clark was producer for a few months, to be followed by Mr. Kenneth Brampton in 1927, Mr. Gaston Mervale in 1932. and Mr. Frederic EH, McCallum, the present producer, about a year later. Under the — direction of these men the Auckland Little Theatre has staged a long list of admirable productions, and has introduced to its audiences many, modern plays which otherwise they would never have seen, Less than a year after the inception of the above society, steps were being taken in Wellington to start the movement here, At the invitation of Mrs. B, W. G, Coleridge, aided and abetted

by Messrs. Leo du Chateau. Vivian Rhind and W. M. Page, a preliminary meeting was held in the drawing-room at .Bishopscourt. Unfortunately for me, I was ill in bed, and unable to uttend, but I was present at the second. meeting and asked so many questious that I’m afraid some of those present looked on me as the "nark"® of the party. My trouble was that I couldn’t

find out what had been done at the first meeting. So many of those pre- . Sent seemed to have their heads in the clouds, and to think that we had only to whisper the magic word "repertory," and that the purses of Wellington would open and the money flow freely into our coffers. I was one of those present who wished to know to what extent I was committing myself, and I’m afraid I wasn’t popular, However, Wwe were all enthusiastically in favour of forming a repertory theatre in the capital, and after much discussion, in which one yoluble lady swayed those present to her way‘of thinking, despite the more feeble protests of a few of us. the National Repertory Theatre Society came into being. This highsounding title was felt always, by many of us, to be a misnomer, and was changed some years later to the Weilington Repertory Theatre (Ine.), Mr. Leo du Chateau was the first director, and during the first year staged four excellent productions which met with immediate favour. The premiere of Shaw’s "Pygmalion" was a memorable occasion. By 7 p.m. long queues of people were awaiting admittance to the Concert’ Chamber. I recall the thrill I got when I reached the Town Hall and saw this unexpected crowd trying to get in. The cast comprised Miss Nan Pike as Eliza Doolittle, Mrs. Coleridge as Mrs. Hill. Miss Hilda" Miles as Miss Hill, Miss’ Louise Hall as the housekeeper, Mrs, John Hannah as Mrs, Higgins, Miss Thyra Baldwin: as the maid, Mr. Vivian Rhind as the Cockney dustman, Doolittle, Mr, Fletch--er Turner ag Colonel Pickering, Mr. Frank Burden as Freddy, Mr, Joseph Hunt as a Cockney, and I played Pro- . fessor Higgins. Mr. du Chateau’s pro- . duction was brilliant, and we had a most enthusiastic reception. ‘The society was thus launched. successfully. But, despite this big initial success, we were faced. with great difficulties for several years, The chief of these was finance. A feeling was abroad that the National Repertory Theatre Society was an exclusive highbrow body. It has taken us years to dispel this illusion; but, thank goodness! it seems to be dissipated at last, for during recent years the membership has increased rapidly and, at present, is going ahead by leaps and bounds. Since the beginning of April of this year, eighty new members have joined up, Which shows the continually growing interest in the Repertory Theatre, The growing interest in repertory work is instanced, too, by the success

achieved by the recently-inaugurated society, the Thespians, under Myr, Victor S. Lloyd’s skilful direction. I have written at length about Wellington; but the repertory movement has spread to all parts of New Zealand. Christchurch soon followed the lead of the northern cities. There had been the elements of a repertory theatre there for some years at Canterbury College, where Professor Shelley was the guiding spirit. He has entered

whole-heartedly into the movement, and has done much toward the great. success of the Canterbury Repertory Theatre. Mr. Beresford was the first producer, but he was soon succeeded by Misg Kiore King, who did -excellent work till ill-health forced her to retire for a time. Invercargill, too, has a most efficient "Play Box Theatre," where scenery and properties are made by the members, and a long list of plays has been produced. :