Amateur Theatre in New Zealand: A view from Tauranga (Volume three)

Volume Three: 1970-2000, The Professionals Are Here

Historical Synopsis

(1965-) Permanently based professional salaried theatre companies spread nationally. Arts Council funded.
(1971-) Professional "Gateway" theatre established in Tauranga. Complex inter-relationship with Tauranga Repertory society.
(1978) Declining audiences for both: Gateway closes. A new "pro" group emerges: "Company Theatre". TRS compelled to share their theatre to avoid its closure.
(1980) "Company Theatre" ends. Urgent improvements needed for TRS theatre building. Local architect volunteers to plan and supervise.
(1992) Theatre now totally transformed and re-equipped.

$350,000 expended - 90% raised by society's own activities. The same year the largest of the professional theatres, "Mercury" in Auckland closes. End of "permanent company" concept. Production personnel now engaged on short term contract or "share of box office" basis.

Topics highlighted-Inter Alia

• Expanded writing and production of NZ plays.
• Music Theatre.
• Drama Schools.
• Theatre dining.
• Morality permissiveness - censorship.
• Decline of TV influence.
• Positive pro-am relationships.
• Economic political legislative-funding policy changes.
• Amateur theatre in year 2000 surveyed nationally.

Motivation:

"What keeps amateur theatre alive so long - is what will keep professional theatre alive - that people who want to do it - want to do it so passionately that they will do it against all odds" Ian Mune. 1996