Reading about our community in Midweek

ON STAGE: Edwyna was involved as stage manager for Macbeth, directed by Karen Craig and staged at Bason Botanical Gardens.

Whether you call it a Pearl (traditional) or Diamond (modern) Anniversary it's congratulations to Midweek for achieving its 30-year milestone. In today's society where many things do not survive - "all in the name of progress" - Midweek continues to thrive and give Wanganui and surrounding areas a great free paper filled with local news and events. It is so refreshing to be able to pick up the Midweek and read about your own community of local people and their achievements and events. Weekly good news and achievements (sometimes in the face of adversity) are rare these days when papers are most often filled with doom and gloom.
My focus has been on local arts organisations that I have been part of and we have been grateful to Paul and the Midweek for informing readers of our shows, events and history over the years. Paul has also been instrumental in interviewing and reporting on shows and events and you always know that he will do a fantastic job. Subjects and organisations that Paul has given me the opportunity to write about include The Wanganui Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society Inc, founded in 1874 which has the distinction of being the oldest musical theatre in New Zealand. Better known as Amdram Musical Theatre, it was privileged to have as its patron for many years the late great Rob Guest who took the leading roles in Amdram's Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (a dream of a show that I was fortunate to be in), Half a Sixpence and the New Zealand premiere of Barnum.
The word amateur might be in the official name but Amdram, having staged more than 200 shows in the Royal Wanganui Opera House since its first performance in 1900 of The Mikado - and the many shows staged at Amdram Theatre since the 1960s - has never ceased to amaze me (as Production Manager over these last 15 or so years), just how much talent we have and have had here in The River City.
Another drama group I was associated with was Cheryl Amos' Rainbow River Theatre in the old Four Seasons Building for a couple of years before she moved to Dunedin. Paul recalled some of the history of the theatre over the years in a couple of articles and the students taught by Cheryl had fun bringing to life the theatre again. Wanganui's Hazel Menehira was the Patron of Rainbow River Theatre and she had the Wanganui launch of her own biography at the theatre. This all brought back lots of memories for all those people associated with Four Seasons Theatre.
Most recently I was lucky enough to Production Manage the outdoor production of Macbeth staged at the beautiful Bason Reserve earlier this year. As readers know, this very successful production directed by Karen Craig was followed on the Sunday by the hugely successful Elizabethan Fair organised by Terry Dowdeswell and his team. It was amazing to learn from people who came out to these events how many did not know Bason Reserve existed. It is right on our doorstep and having lived next door to Bason Reserve myself for a few years I knew that it was quicker to get to town from the Bason than it was to drive from Castlecliff Beach to Aramoho Park. We can only hope that more people now take advantage of the beautiful surrounds the Reserve has to offer. Once again Paul and the Midweek were there to promote the event to readers in a number of articles and photographs.
Paul and the Midweek have also reported on The Wanganui Community Choir that I am now a member of and have written some articles about. This year is the 25th Anniversary of the choir and it will be celebrated in a concert on Saturday, August 13 at 2pm in the Central Baptist Church, a concert entitled SING 25 - a Celebration of Song. Heading our guest artists will be Shannon Atkin MMs - Grad Dip Mus from Wellington. Shannon was a foundation member of the choir starting when she was only 11 years old, coming along with her mother. Shannon went on to study opera and is a rising star in the opera world.
Once again congratulations to the Midweek headed by Paul Brooks on its 30th Anniversary. I really appreciate the opportunity to say some words and reminisce on articles and organisations that I have been part of. Thank you. Paul - long may you and the Midweek continue to bring your interesting articles, news and entertainment to the residents of Wanganui and surrounding districts.