Share
Garden gala, RENT and a tribute to a friend
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
Welcome to the December issue of Court Cues,
We held our fundraiser in support of the new Court in the city recently. The Flaxmere Garden Day was a huge success and enjoyed by many. Close on $20,000 was raised for the new theatre. A big thank you to those who came and supported the day!
Penny Zino's spectacular garden
Erecting the marquee in the rain the day before
The plant experts imparting their knowledge
The plant auction
Some of the hard-working team
Lunch with wine, coffee and a fabulous view
Art exhibition and sale

RENT the musical – a modern classic
by Cheryl Colley

I had the pleasure of seeing RENT in New York at the end of 1997. My lasting memory is of a production full of energy and great songs. Lara Macgregor, who directed The Court’s production, saw RENT at that time too when she was living in New York. 

"I’m thrilled Rent was chosen to be staged at The Court," Lara told me. "The show may have been written back in the 1990s and be based in New York, but there are many parallels in its story-line with today in New Zealand. The musicians, artists, actors and performers in RENT are struggling to make a living in a time of upheaval with the AIDS pandemic and the potential loss of their homes as old apartments in the Lower East side of New York are bought up and converted. Today’s performers have been through COVID with the subsequent traumatic cancellation of performances and loss of work, so it’s great to be able to celebrate actors, creativity and lifelong friendships."  

Lara added that this has been her first opportunity to direct a musical and she undertook a great deal of research to crystallise her vision for the set and for the show’s design. Many of us have seen other productions directed by Lara and know that what we see on stage is the very best The Court can present. Lara took the idea of the word "rent" as meaning "torn apart" or "shredded with rage". That gives a clue to the concept for the set – it does look grungy and dilapidated, but it’s the spirit of the people who live in the area that overcomes that apparent squalor.
To cast the show took some five months. RENT was originally scheduled for 2020 and by this year at least half the cast had found other work. So, Lara worked with some new people. Her hope for them all during the season is that they will have a wonderful summer of friendships and satisfying work.  
RENT is on at The Court from 19 November 2022 – 21 January 2023. Don’t miss this highlight of the summer season.
Book Now | Learn More


Annette Facer 1933 – 2022

The Friends of The Court Theatre (formerly The Court Theatre Supporters) owe their existence to Annette Facer. It was she who, along with Mildred (Milly) Woods, started the society. As Annette recalls in The History of The Court Theatre: "...the group burst into life in 1972. We set it up with our own committee; everyone was tremendously helpful. We assisted with publicity, ran the coffee bar and organised the ushering." That of course all sounds very familiar as those are the cornerstone elements of what the Friends do today.


Annette passed away on 30 September 2022 in Dunedin, where she had made her home for many years. But Christchurch, acting and The Court Theatre were very dear to Annette as a younger woman. She was part of the University of Canterbury Drama Society in the late 1950s, at the time that Dame Ngaio Marsh was directing her famous productions of Shakespeare’s plays. Annette played roles such as Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra and Princess Katharine in Henry V.

It was little wonder that when the new professional Court Theatre was founded, Annette was right there amongst it all.

Indeed, she was cast in the lead role in the very first Court Theatre production, in April 1971 – The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Subsequently, Annette played a number of roles for the fledgling Court Theatre, directed some productions and also worked as the company stage manager in the early days of Elric Hooper’s time as Artistic Director.
Although she moved to Dunedin, Annette’s affinity with The Court Theatre never waned. She was able to return to Christchurch for the major celebrations, the last being the 50th anniversary in April 2021.

Thank you, Annette, for everything you contributed to the theatre and, most of all, for being the Founder of the Friends.   
Quiz Night 2022

Another of our much-anticipated Friends’ Quizzes was held in October and was another fun night of education and entertainment! Thanks to everyone who helped put it together, and to all who came and participated.
The brilliant marking team!
Wishing you a very happy Christmas and some well-earned holidays.
See you back at the theatre in 2023!

Annie Bonifant,
Chair - Friends of the Court Theatre
Website
  
Facebook
  
Instagram
The Court Theatre
Bernard Street
Addington
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
Freephone: 0800 333 100 | Box Office: 963 0870

Email Marketing by ActiveCampaign