Page 3 - OT_70th Anniversary

This is the story of Membership of the Society was open to all
how we arrived at where
we are today with our
successes and failures
and how we overcame the
latter. During and immediately
after World War II the people of Whangarei
were starved for live entertainment.
Anything that moved on stage was
welcomed with open arms. A group of
enthusiastic thespians were such movers.
They really got their act together and a lot
of hard work took place under the guidance
of Mr. Harmon Smith and Miss G
McCluskey (a professional Typist and
Secretary).
A notice appeared in the Northern
Advocate stating that a public meeting
would be held at the YWCA Hall, Rust
Avenue on the evening of Thursday April 8
1948, and inviting people who might be
interested to attend. From that meeting the
Whangarei Repertory Society was formed,
with the object of catering for those citizens
who were interested in the production of
drama.
The first elected committee was: President
Mr H A Henderson, Vice-President Mrs J
Drayton, Secretary Mrs L Rishworth,
Committee: Mrs J Durney, Mrs I Busck, Mr
R Orr, Mr R Drayton, Mr B Spring, Dr A
Webb and Mr D Stokes.
The first rehearsed play was ‘The Linden
Tree’ produced by Harry Field in November
1948 at the home of Ron and Joy Drayton.
Now the chase began - to find a hall
suitable for our requirements. After many
refusals, the Society finally rented the
Methodist Church Hall in Bank Street in
April 1949 but in 1950 we were asked to
find alternative accommodation as the hall
was required for other church activities. So
the hunt was on again and this time we
were lucky with the rental of the Parochial
Hall in Kamo Road on 13 March 1951 (13
unlucky for some but lucky for us). This
agreement was to stand us in good stead
for the next ten plus years.
1
and by no means necessitated acting
ability as members were needed for
various other skills such as management,
stage management, make-up, wardrobe,
lighting and set construction.
We aimed to encourage members to take
part in all aspects of theatre - particularly
young people - and to give them an
understanding of live theatre while, at the
same time, bringing entertainment to suit
our audience's tastes. That was basically
the aim and object of the Society and still is
today.
Committee meetings were held in different
members’ homes, as were play readings
and rehearsals - finishing of course with
tea or coffee.
The first major production was ‘Autumn
Crocus’, staged at the Whangarei Boys'
High School Gymnasium Hall on Thursday
July 21 1949, directed by Eric Blow, with a
cast of thirteen. Whangarei Repertory was
on its way!
The choice of second major production
caused a minor hiccup when the High
School Principal learnt that in one scene a
man and a woman, who were not married
to each other, were to appear in the same
bed together. Oh Dear!!! This was a No-
No in those times and required a change of
venue.
The first major production was therefore
staged in the Whangarei Town Hall - a
comedy by Kenneth Horne, ‘Jane Steps
Out’ on November 16 1949.
Play readings were held, open to the
public, in the Parochial Hall on a monthly
basis. Play readings were presented,
rehearsed (but with books) and in costume;
the public comments were always the
same: "You know, I never noticed the
books". From these readings (and often by
public demand), major productions were
decided upon and auditions called. The
play was then presented in the Town Hall.
For the next seven years the Whangarei
Repertory Society kept the citizens of
Whangarei very happy with live
entertainment.