| Jubilee Celebrations and fun for all 50 years is a
major milestone for a theatre, and everyone agreed that the
celebrations over Queen's Birthday weekend did justice to this
occasion.
Past members got together with current members for an evening of
reminiscing, catching up with old friends, making new friends, not
to mention eating, drinking, and being entertained by a variety of
members and past members, some of them coming from far-afield.
After some time looking at photos and other memorabilia from past
shows, the celebrations were formally openened by past member Ray
Henwood. He gave us the official toast and cut the cake, and
later had everyone spellbound with an extract from his show
'Burton', with which he is about to tour Australia. We were
fortunate that he could spend some time with us as his tour opens in
Melbourne on Queen's Birthday weekend - fortunately the Australian
Queen has her birthday a week later than New Zealand's.
We were entertained by singers, dancers, actors, and even
technicians, and fed until we could eat no more. In the end
everyone went home satisfied. The next day we continued with
the reminiscing, including visits to the old drama hut, which is now
just used as a storage facility. In its day it housed the
productions, but at its present site it was necessary to stop and
wait every time a train went past. Then, as always happens in
theatre, it is time to clear up. To take down the set, de-rig
the lights, and pack everything away.
There was no doubt in anyone's mind that it was all worth the
effort, and we are all now looking forward to the 75th anniversary.
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