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Featured Member - March 2004
In
March we are featuring Diane Drew, another newcomer to Melville
theatre Company.
She may be new to MTC but Diane has very early memories of involvement
with theatre in New Zealand. Her mother was active in amateur
theatre; appearing in many productions for her local amateur
theatre group as well as in reviews to raise money for kindergartens.
Anxious not to be outdone, Diane submitted to a daily routine
of voice production exercises from a tender age, finally cajoling
her mother into letting her go to a "real" elocution
teacher at about age 8. From then on it was an endless round
of lessons, Trinity College exams, eisteddfod appearances and,
making all the work worthwhile, parts in plays.
Diane
appeared in many plays for theatre groups, but was never able
to get a part in primary school plays (other than the ubiquitous
tree or flower). This stung her into action when she started
high school, ensuring she entered every Shakespeare Speech and
prepared speech competition. Highlights of this time include:
- appearing in an all-girl production of "A Midsummer
Night's Dream", where because of her size and junior
status she was assured that the fairy costume for Mustardseed
would fit perfectly;
- being involved in the inaugural and subsequent secondary
schools drama festivals
- attempting the high notes in the chorus of "The Pirates
of Penzance" (thankfully not an all-girl production);
- attending the First National Youth Theatre School.
With
all this exposure to theatre and after being awarded the drama
prize in her final year at school, Diane naturally enrolled
in a Chemistry course at University. Four years of Chemistry
was made palatable by being active in university drama productions
including Macbeth, Peer Gynt, Mother Courage and The Bear. A
highlight was watching Ngaio Marsh produce Henry V for the opening
of the theatre dedicated to her.
With
the completion of university studies, an LTCL and a feeling
that she had just completed the wrong degree (despite her Chemistry
professor dismissing these thoughts by suggesting that there
were no jobs in the Arts), Diane headed overseas. Here she discovered
London theatre but was too busy trying to earn a living to participate.
Travel, then marriage and family became priorities and after
a 30-year gap Diane has now renewed her love of theatre.
The
part of Ida in the recent Melville Theatre Company production
of "The Cemetery Club" allowed Diane to once again
experience the fun, the challenge and the highs of theatre.
The bug has bitten - and she hopes to remain an active member
of MTC until she is no longer able to remember her lines.
Welcome
Diane - and don't worry about forgetting lines - it's never
bothered Stuart!
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