Southern Comedy Players

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Southern Comedy Players

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Organisation	Southern Comedy Players
Address
Functions	Presenting Company, Production Company
Notes	Founded in 1957 as a touring theatre company that would take light comedy to the small communities in the lower half of the South Island by Bernard Esquilant and William Menlove. Ended in 1971. Renamed the Southern Players in 1966, and the Southern Theatre Trust in 1969.
Events	Date Contributor Organisation Venue
	Pygmalion, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1968 Green Julia, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1968 Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 The Importance of Being Earnest, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 12 August 1967 Hedda Gabler, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 The Private Ear and the Public Eye, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Gaslight, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 The Creeper, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Portrait of a Queen, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1966 The House on the Cliff, His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin, 21 July 1964 The Living Room, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1964 The Shifting Heart, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 18 May 1963 The Pohutukawa Tree, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 30 March 1963 Late Night Extra, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 25 March 1963 Late Nght Extra, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 25 March 1963 The End of the Golden Weather, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 14 March 1963 The Rattle, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Passion, Poison and Petrification or The Fatal Gazogene, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 The Axe and the Oak Tree, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Beauty and the Beast, Tour (South Island), South Island, 1962 Love in a Mist, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1962 Charley's Aunt, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1962 Johnny Belinda, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1962 Watch It Sailor, Opera House, Gisborne, 4 October 1961 Blithe Spirit, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, 4 March 1960 Free As Air, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1960 Salad Days, Tour (South Island), South Island, 11 May 1959 The Cat and the Canary, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1959 While the Sun Shines, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1959 Salad Days, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1958 Doctor in the House, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1958 Sailor Beware, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1958 Private Lives, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1958 Charley's Aunt, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1957
	Southern Players Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 The Importance of Being Earnest, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 12 August 1967 The Creeper, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Gaslight, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 The Private Ear and the Public Eye, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Hedda Gabler, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Portrait of a Queen, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1966 The Southern Trust Green Julia, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1968 Pygmalion, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1968
	The Playhouse, Dunedin Pygmalion, 1968 Green Julia, 1968 Rebecca, 7 October 1967 The Importance of Being Earnest, 12 August 1967 Hedda Gabler, 1967 The Private Ear and the Public Eye, 1967 Gaslight, 1967 The Creeper, 1967 Portrait of a Queen, 1966 The Shifting Heart, 18 May 1963 The Pohutukawa Tree, 30 March 1963 Late Night Extra, 25 March 1963 Late Nght Extra, 25 March 1963 The End of the Golden Weather, 14 March 1963 The Rattle, 1963 Salad Days, 1963 Passion, Poison and Petrification or The Fatal Gazogene, 1963 The Axe and the Oak Tree, 1963 Johnny Belinda, 1962 Dunedin, Dunedin The Living Room, 1964 Love in a Mist, 1962 Charley's Aunt, 1962 Free As Air, 1960 The Cat and the Canary, 1959 While the Sun Shines, 1959 Salad Days, 1958 Doctor in the House, 1958 Sailor Beware, 1958 Private Lives, 1958 Charley's Aunt, 1957 Tour (South Island), South Island Beauty and the Beast, 1962 Salad Days, 11 May 1959 His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin The House on the Cliff, 21 July 1964 Opera House, Gisborne Watch It Sailor, 4 October 1961 Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch Blithe Spirit, 4 March 1960
	Bernard Esquilant - Actor, Director, Set Designer Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 The Creeper, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 The Private Ear and the Public Eye, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 The House on the Cliff, His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin, 21 July 1964 The Living Room, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1964 The Shifting Heart, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 18 May 1963 Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Beauty and the Beast, Tour (South Island), South Island, 1962 Watch It Sailor, Opera House, Gisborne, 4 October 1961 Salad Days, Tour (South Island), South Island, 11 May 1959 Graham Clifford - Director Blithe Spirit, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, 4 March 1960 Free As Air, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1960 Salad Days, Tour (South Island), South Island, 11 May 1959 While the Sun Shines, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1959 The Cat and the Canary, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1959 Salad Days, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1958 Sailor Beware, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1958 Doctor in the House, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1958 William Menlove - Actor, Stage Manager Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 The Importance of Being Earnest, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 12 August 1967 The Creeper, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 The Private Ear and the Public Eye, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 The Shifting Heart, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 18 May 1963 Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Watch It Sailor, Opera House, Gisborne, 4 October 1961 Ethel Hobbs - Actor The House on the Cliff, His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin, 21 July 1964 Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Johnny Belinda, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1962 Watch It Sailor, Opera House, Gisborne, 4 October 1961 Blithe Spirit, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, 4 March 1960 Bruce Mason - Actor, Director, Performer, Playwright, Writer The Pohutukawa Tree, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 30 March 1963 Late Nght Extra, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 25 March 1963 Late Night Extra, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 25 March 1963 The End of the Golden Weather, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 14 March 1963 Les Milnes - Actor Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 The Shifting Heart, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 18 May 1963 The Pohutukawa Tree, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 30 March 1963 Beauty and the Beast, Tour (South Island), South Island, 1962 Dorothy Reynolds - Lyricist, Musician Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Free As Air, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1960 Salad Days, Tour (South Island), South Island, 11 May 1959 Salad Days, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1958 Julian Slade - Music and Lyrics Librettist Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Free As Air, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1960 Salad Days, Tour (South Island), South Island, 11 May 1959 Salad Days, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1958 Peter Tulloch - Actor, Set Painter Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 The Importance of Being Earnest, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 12 August 1967 The Creeper, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 The Private Ear and the Public Eye, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Patric Carey - Director Charley's Aunt, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1962 Private Lives, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1958 Charley's Aunt, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1957 Meryl Faris - Actor, Prompt Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 Gaslight, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 The Shifting Heart, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 18 May 1963 Roy Hope - Director Green Julia, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1968 Pygmalion, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1968 Hedda Gabler, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Gillian King - Actor Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Johnny Belinda, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1962 Watch It Sailor, Opera House, Gisborne, 4 October 1961 Catherine Moller - Actor, Assistant Stage Manager Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Johnny Belinda, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1962 Beauty and the Beast, Tour (South Island), South Island, 1962 Bertha Rawlinson - Actor, Director Pygmalion, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1968 The Creeper, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 The Shifting Heart, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 18 May 1963 Paul Armfeldt - Actor Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 The Creeper, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Tudor Bostock - Actor, Director Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 The Rattle, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Edmund Butler - Actor Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Salad Days, Tour (South Island), South Island, 11 May 1959 Falkland Carey - Playwright Watch It Sailor, Opera House, Gisborne, 4 October 1961 Sailor Beware, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1958 Anna Carroll - Actor, Assistant Stage Manager Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 The Importance of Being Earnest, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 12 August 1967 Noel Coward - Playwright Blithe Spirit, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, 4 March 1960 Private Lives, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1958 Douglas Dall - Actor, Director Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 The Importance of Being Earnest, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 12 August 1967 Graeme Eton - Actor The Creeper, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Gaslight, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Dallas Fairmaid - Actor Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 The Pohutukawa Tree, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 30 March 1963 Frank Grayson - Actor, Assistant Stage Manager, Set and/or Property Maker The Shifting Heart, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 18 May 1963 Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Bernard Hill - Actor Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 The Pohutukawa Tree, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 30 March 1963 Dick Johnstone - Director Gaslight, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 The Private Ear and the Public Eye, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 John Kim - Director Love in a Mist, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1962 Watch It Sailor, Opera House, Gisborne, 4 October 1961 Philip King - Playwright Watch It Sailor, Opera House, Gisborne, 4 October 1961 Sailor Beware, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1958 Clare Mahon - Publicist The Shifting Heart, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 18 May 1963 Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Tony McNally - Assistant Stage Manager The Shifting Heart, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 18 May 1963 Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Ben Miller - Actor Charley's Aunt, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1962 Charley's Aunt, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1957 Waric Slyfield - Actor, Director The Private Ear and the Public Eye, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 The House on the Cliff, His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin, 21 July 1964 Robin Stevens - Actor Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Salad Days, Tour (South Island), South Island, 11 May 1959 Brandon Thomas - Playwright Charley's Aunt, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1962 Charley's Aunt, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1957 Peggy Turvey - Actor Watch It Sailor, Opera House, Gisborne, 4 October 1961 Blithe Spirit, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, 4 March 1960 Sybil Westland - Actor Blithe Spirit, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, 4 March 1960 Salad Days, Tour (South Island), South Island, 11 May 1959 Paul Ableman - Playwright Green Julia, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1968 Michael Andrewes - Actor Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Lindsay Baragwanath - Actor The Rattle, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Iris Barron - Actor Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 George Batson - Playwright The House on the Cliff, His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin, 21 July 1964 Richard Beynon - Playwright The Shifting Heart, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 18 May 1963 John Blumsky - Actor The Shifting Heart, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 18 May 1963 Julie Blumsky - Actor The Shifting Heart, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 18 May 1963 Elizabeth Booth - Actor, Properties Officer Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Beverley Brown - Actor Blithe Spirit, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, 4 March 1960 Lindsay Campbell - Actor The Shifting Heart, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 18 May 1963 J A S Coppard - Playwright The Axe and the Oak Tree, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Diana Cross - Actor Gaslight, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Ursula Cruickshank - Actor The Importance of Being Earnest, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 12 August 1967 Patricia Dallas - Actor Gaslight, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Christopher de Lautour - Actor The Rattle, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Alan de Malmanche - Director Portrait of a Queen, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1966 Lionel Devaliant - Actor The Shifting Heart, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 18 May 1963 Michael Devine - Actor Watch It Sailor, Opera House, Gisborne, 4 October 1961 Daphne du Maurier - Writer Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 Roger Dunbar - Musician: Pianist Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Shona Dunlop - Choreographer Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 William Francis - Playwright Portrait of a Queen, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1966 Frank Gayson - Actor Blithe Spirit, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, 4 March 1960 Richard Gordon - Writer Doctor in the House, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1958 Graham Greene - Writer The Living Room, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1964 Patrick Hamilton - Playwright Gaslight, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Elmer Harris - Playwright Johnny Belinda, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1962 Martin Harris - Actor Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Keith Harrison - Actor Gaslight, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Pat Harrison - Director The Importance of Being Earnest, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 12 August 1967 Kenneth Horne - Playwright Love in a Mist, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1962 Henrik Ibsen - Playwright Hedda Gabler, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Diane Jack - Actor Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Merv Jarvis - Actor Free As Air, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1960 Val Lamond - Actor Free As Air, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1960 Jennifer Levy - Actor The Rattle, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Desmond Lock - Actor Blithe Spirit, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, 4 March 1960 Pauline Macaulay - Playwright The Creeper, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Terry MacTavish - Actor The Importance of Being Earnest, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 12 August 1967 June McFarlane - Director, Playwright Passion, Poison and Petrification or The Fatal Gazogene, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Jean Metcalfe - Actor The Shifting Heart, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 18 May 1963 Janet Milburn - Actor Blithe Spirit, Theatre Royal, Christchurch, Christchurch, 4 March 1960 Hugh Milne - Actor Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Suzanne Morris - Actor Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 Margery Moyne - Actor Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 Elizabeth Murchie - Actor The Pohutukawa Tree, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 30 March 1963 Frank Newman - Director Johnny Belinda, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1962 Michael Noonan - Actor, Playwright The Rattle, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Chris Pickard - Actor Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 Trevor Pitt - Actor, Set Designer Salad Days, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Justin Prain - Actor The Importance of Being Earnest, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 12 August 1967 Terence Rattigan - Playwright While the Sun Shines, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1959 John Reid Jr - Actor Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 Peter Shaffer - Playwright The Private Ear and the Public Eye, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 George Bernard Shaw - Playwright Pygmalion, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1968 Robin Smellie - Actor Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 Aubrey Stephens - Actor The Importance of Being Earnest, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 12 August 1967 Marita Stokes - Actor The Importance of Being Earnest, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 12 August 1967 Hazel Stroud - Director The Axe and the Oak Tree, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Ann Walker - Actor The Rattle, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1963 Sally Walker - Actor The Private Ear and the Public Eye, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 1967 Roland Watson - Actor Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967 Oscar Wilde - Playwright The Importance of Being Earnest, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 12 August 1967 John Willard - Playwright The Cat and the Canary, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1959 Ted Willis - Playwright Doctor in the House, Dunedin, Dunedin, 1958 Fiona Wilson - Front of House Rebecca, The Playhouse, Dunedin, 7 October 1967
Data Set	Theatre Aotearoa
Organisation Identifier	58188

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