News in brief
Young folk working hard on Christmas puppet production
Six young folk and two adults have been practising weekly for this year’s Christmas Puppet Production, The Animals of Christmas.
The half-hour musical is told by the animals who could have been there to witness the birth of the babe in the manger, said director Lynne Reid. It will form part of the normal Presbyterian Church (opposite the high school) Sunday service, beginning at 10am on Sunday 19 December, with a cast of 13 animals and 2 angels. Overall, the hour-long service for adults and children alike has the theme: “Everyone is welcome at the feet of Jesus”.
The GB Puppeteers have presented at least one major production each year since their beginnings five years ago. In between they have been involved in a variety of preschool shows, several children’s A& P Shows, and other presentations both in the Presbyterian Church and for other churches in the Bay and Tasman area. Along with the regular team’s weekly practices, several preschoolers have had the opportunity to share with congregations an occasional song from behind the stage, using smaller puppets, some of which they have also helped to create.
Lynne and her husband, minister Bob Reid, are moving to Kaiapoi at the beginning of next year.
“We are sorry to be leaving the Bay but, with three children and their families living in Christchurch, and Bob officially retired, we feel this is the time to be closer to them,” said Lynne.
“Most of our puppet family will be travelling with us, other than a few hand puppets left for the pre-schoolers, and possibly several with our former GB Puppeteers for future puppet ministry.”
Submitted
Golden bay photo hunt competition for GB promotions
The Golden Bay Promotion Association (GBPA) is calling all local photographers, big and small, to go on a local photo hunt. The intention is to create a digital image library to showcase the diverse and unique characteristics of Golden Bay.
GBPA’s Jane Dixon says the competition had come about because the association was getting new promotional banners made, as the old ones were a bit tired.
“We are looking for some new images and there may be some local photographers going to interesting parts in the Bay. There are always such gorgeous pictures shown at the theatre, and we hope for some enthused photographers to put their pictures forward for some display banners or to be used on our website or other promotional material.”
Entries are sought in three categories: Golden Bay lifestyle—people at work, rest and play, including annual events; Landscape—the beach, bush, wildlife, flora, fauna and “heart of the parks”; and finally Open Lens, where anything goes—still life to real life, Kiwiana to Bay Art. A panel of judges will select the best entries and the successful competitor will be rewarded with some stunning surprise prizes. GBPA may also display the photographs at the Golden Bay A&P Show in January.
The image library management is at the discretion of the GBPA committee, which reserves the right to make the images available to the community and other organisations. The association will also hold the copyright of all images, which may appear in GBPA publications, in print or on screen and on the worldwide web.
All photographers who would like to share their treasures are invited to take part in the photo hunt added GBPA’s Sara Chapman amd people who have not gone digital can drop their entries into the i-SITE. Non-judged entries are also going to be accepted.
“People who would not like to have their photos judged can still send them in. With digital photography people take a lot more more photos these days and because we produce the guide every year we try to include new photos every year and and we would really like to see what people have out there,” says Sara.
All photographs must be taken in Golden Bay and the general location needs to be stated. All entries must be 300ppi and 1.5 to 3.8MB to ensure good print resolution and need to have the name of photographer, email address or a telephone number for contact. No photographs can be submitted on behalf of another person.
Send entries via email to gbp.assoc@gmail.com before 31 December 2010. For further information contact <cynthia@goldenbaynz.co.nz>.
Ina Holst
Comic Revue plans to raise the roof – literally
The upcoming 2011 Fun-Raising Comic Revue will be a comedy show with a difference.
It will celebrate the use of Golden Bay’s community halls by touring several of them, and all toward a good cause—a new roof for Takaka’s Playhouse in Park Avenue.
The revue, which features well-loved skits by Monty Python, The Two Ronnies, and Absolutely Fabulous, new sketches never before seen in New Zealand, plus a musical tribute to Fred Dagg, will play on January 5 (Playhouse), January 6 (Pohara hall), January 7 (Rockville hall), January 8 (Pakawau hall), January 11 (Collingwood hall), January 12 (Pohara hall) and January 5 (Playhouse).
For producer/director Anita Hutchinson and co-directors Steven Wilkinson and Geoff Rennison, touring rural halls is about true community theatre.
“The intention is to take it out to people in some of the more remote communities, who rarely or never get the chance to enjoy live theatre,” said Steven.
“So many people come from miles around to support us in town, and we wanted to give something back to them,” added Anita. “Yes, any funds raised will be used towards the roof, but we will be doing specific fundraising, too.
“The budget we’re working toward is $100,000, of which we have to raise $60,000 locally.”
The different hall layouts will pose some interesting challenges for lighting, curtains and sets. Props will be kept to an absolute minimum, and as some halls have very small stages, some of the sketches may be off-stage at audience level. This will require extra adaptability from the small, local cast: Anita and Steven, Hobie Mercer, Martine Baanvinger, Paul Sangster, Maria and Adam Polglase, Eddie Van Son and GBHS graduate Rhys Kerr, now studying drama in Wellington.
Tickets are available at the door only, at $10 a seat, which reflects the show’s suitability for mature audiences.
Maria Polglase
