St Andrew's College

St Andrew’s College students along with Rangi Ruru Girls’ School recently showcased their performing arts talent in a fundraiser evening for the Repertory Theatre. Students raised $1602.93 for the theatre, which was severely damaged in the September and February earthquakes and has since been demolished. 

Dianne Jones, Chair of Repertory said, “Having fought and lost our home, Repertory members were just so touched when we heard that the students wanted to raise money for the theatre they loved.” Both St Andrew’s and Rangi Ruru students have performed at the Repertory Theatre. Repertory Artistic Director Rozena Hallum (who taught at St Andrew’s for many years) said productions such as Oklahoma, Fame and City of Angels were all held at Repertory as well as events like the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival so students knew what they were losing when the theatre was damaged.

The idea for a fundraiser evening started when Isobella King from Rangi Ruru approached Year 13 St Andrew’s students George Caseley and Annie Rodwell about doing a joint performing arts evening showcasing dance, drama and music from the two schools. George and Annie were looking for a fundraising idea and knew this was the perfect opportunity to raise funds for the Repertory Theatre.

Isobella said it was great to get the two schools working together to create a different sort of friendship as the schools don’t often have the chance to work together. “It was also about having the opportunity to display our work as we haven’t been able to dance much this year so it was an ideal outlet”, she said.  

The students wanted to put on a fun evening that was not too orchestrated. Audience members certainly enjoyed the spontaneity of the evening and were treated to a varied programme of drama, dance and music devised and performed by students.

On the night it was a full house with all ticket proceeds and audience donations going to Repertory. After the show one parent commented how proud they were that students could put together such a wonderful evening considering all they had been through this year.

Dianne agrees, “Above all, it was the thought behind all this. In a year when students have experienced what we have all experienced, and had that extra pressure to complete studies and assignments and prepare for exams, they took time to give.  As a Cantabrian, a teacher and member of Repertory, it is a gift I’ll always treasure.”

Rangi Ruru student organiser Samantha Guest said that they had not had a performance space this year either and so understood how the Repertory members felt. 

It is hoped that the Repertory Theatre can be rebuilt on the same site in the same style, albeit somewhat modernized. Rozena feels strongly that the theatre is an important centerpiece to the Thomas Edmonds legacy to the city.

Thomas Edmonds founded the Edmonds Factory and gardens in Ferry Road and substantially funded or donated to Christchurch buildings such as the Theosophical Society building in Cambridge Terrace, Band Rotunda (now the Thomas Edmonds Restaurant in Cambridge Terrace), the clock tower and telephone cabinet in Oxford Terrace and many more.  

He commissioned the Repertory Theatre (then Radiant Hall) in 1929. “Although the actual building is gone it’s important to retain that historical association,” Rozena believes. “And the city is short of a good proscenium arch theatre.” The Repertory Theatre had been fundraising to earthquake strengthen the theatre for some time prior to the September quake. Unbelievably, on just the Thursday prior to the September 4 earthquake Repertory executive held a meeting with the engineer and architect to discuss plans moving forward for strengthening work.

Despite not having their own space Repertory have held a number of successful productions this year including the recent Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf  and Hamlet. Rozena says donations from St Andrew’s and Rangi Ruru students who are the “grass roots” of performance are special and every little bit will help to rebuild the theatre and hopefully give generations of audiences to come a place to enjoy a little bit of magic.