University of Canterbury Drama Society
Encyclopedia
The University of Canterbury Drama Society Inc (Dramasoc) is a student performing arts
club
at the University of Canterbury
, Christchurch
, New Zealand.
The Canterbury University College Drama Society began in 1921 under the leadership of Professor Sir James Shelley. It enjoyed a reputation as one of New Zealand
's leading theatre groups from the 1920s to the 1960s. The Society was most notably active in the 1942-1969 era under Dame Ngaio Marsh, with critically acclaimed productions (especially of Shakespeare plays) and a 1949 theatre tour of Australia.
The Society was wound up in the early 1990s due to financial difficulties but was resurrected by an ad hoc committee in October and November 1993, and restarted as a full student club in the beginning of 1994. Since 1994, it has had a regular and active membership numbering from dozens to hundreds (including both students and non-students as members), and has performed at least three productions each year. It is currently a significant presence in the small Christchurch theatre scene.
Its traditional home is the Ngaio Marsh Theatre
at the University of Canterbury Students' Association
. However, the society also regularly performs in other rooms of the Association building (most notably for its annual festival of student-authored one-act plays called 3some), in outdoor theatre settings on campus, the University Theatre in the Christchurch Arts Centre
, and in roving street theatre
events.
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
club
Club
A club is an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal. A service club, for example, exists for voluntary or charitable activities; there are clubs devoted to hobbies and sports, social activities clubs, political and religious clubs, and so forth.- History...
at the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
, Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand.
The Canterbury University College Drama Society began in 1921 under the leadership of Professor Sir James Shelley. It enjoyed a reputation as one of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's leading theatre groups from the 1920s to the 1960s. The Society was most notably active in the 1942-1969 era under Dame Ngaio Marsh, with critically acclaimed productions (especially of Shakespeare plays) and a 1949 theatre tour of Australia.
The Society was wound up in the early 1990s due to financial difficulties but was resurrected by an ad hoc committee in October and November 1993, and restarted as a full student club in the beginning of 1994. Since 1994, it has had a regular and active membership numbering from dozens to hundreds (including both students and non-students as members), and has performed at least three productions each year. It is currently a significant presence in the small Christchurch theatre scene.
Its traditional home is the Ngaio Marsh Theatre
Ngaio Marsh Theatre
The Ngaio Marsh Theatre is a 400-seat proscenium-arch theatre housed within the University of Canterbury Students' Association building in Christchurch, New Zealand...
at the University of Canterbury Students' Association
University of Canterbury Students' Association
The University of Canterbury Students' Association is a student organisation associated with the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, established in 1894. All current students of the University have automatic membership. It is funded by students and is governed by a constitution through 12...
. However, the society also regularly performs in other rooms of the Association building (most notably for its annual festival of student-authored one-act plays called 3some), in outdoor theatre settings on campus, the University Theatre in the Christchurch Arts Centre
Christchurch Arts Centre
The Christchurch Arts Centre is a hub for arts, crafts and entertainment in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located in the neo-gothic former University of Canterbury buildings, the majority of which were designed by Benjamin Mountfort...
, and in roving street theatre
Street theatre
Street theatre is a form of theatrical performance and presentation in outdoor public spaces without a specific paying audience. These spaces can be anywhere, including shopping centres, car parks, recreational reserves and street corners. They are especially seen in outdoor spaces where there are...
events.
External links
- University Of Canterbury Drama Society Official site
- Dramasoc Wiki
- University Of Canterbury Musical Theatre Society A sister society that grew out of Dramasoc, and specialises in musical theatre
- University Of Canterbury Students Association The organisational parent and physical home of the performing arts clubs on campus