Solo play to aid budding student
A one-woman play will help fund a tertiary scholarship for a budding Timaru artist.
Gloria’s Handbag, staring Helen Moulder, is the story of a 97-year-old woman faced with the prospect of moving into a retirement home.
She purchases a designer handbag on a whim and, in doing so, sets off a series of unusual events.
Timaru Community Arts Council member Val Hargraves said a percentage from ticket sales for the show would be dontaed to the Timaru Community Arts Council Scholarship.
‘‘It’s our main fundraising activity. It just depends how much money we make whether we need to do something else as well,’’ Hargraves said.
‘‘We say that it will be at least $500, we do like to have it more like $1000 if we can.’’
The scholarship was open to anyone studying an arts major at a tertiary institution, and would go towards their fees.
The student, or their family, must live within the Timaru District Council rateable area, she said.
Council chairwoman Lois White said the council had been in action since about 1988.
‘‘We have been able to financially assist around 30 budding Timaru artists in that time,’’ White said.
‘‘Our aim is to encourage, promote and support the arts in the community, particularly local artists and for the benefit of the community as well.’’
Scholarship application forms would be available from mid September, and interviews would take place in early November.
Previous scholarship winners include pianist Joanna Buchanan, 2013, actor Bailey Dunnage, 2014, singer Ruby Fraser, 2015, and sculptor and installation artist Anna Reihana, 2016. Reihana received $1500. Gloria’s Handbag, directed by Sue Rider, will be staged across New Zealand courtesy of Arts On Tour New Zealand, which is sponsored by Creative New Zealand.
The play will be staged at The Playhouse on Church St, Timaru, from 7.30pm on May 2.
Tickets $25 from Newmans MusicWorks, Stafford St, Timaru. The play will also be staged at the Events Centre in Twizel, from 7.30pm on May 14.
Tickets $20 adults, $10 students, available from the Twizel Information Centre.