We have been working hard at our rehearsals getting our show ready to show to you all and our show season is rapidly approaching! Get your tickets now to come along and see what we have created this year. Lots of fun, love, laughs and the journey to finding our happy ending!

Our first show is on Friday 9th August with curtains opening at 8pm. We will have food and a bar available on site, however, due to our licensing: NO BYO drinks of ANY kind please. Cash and EFTPOS will be available at the bar. We look forward to seeing you all there!

The link to purchase tickets for the show is under the 'Book' then 'Buy Tickets' section here on our webpage.

We are rapidly approaching our sign up night for this year's show! Come along to Matuku Sumner Centre on Sunday 12th May at 7pm to hear what we have planned for our show this year and give amateur theatre a crack! Anyone over the age of 16 can join us for both onstage and offstage roles. We would love to see you all there! The show season will be run over 4 weekends in August this year. Our rehearsals are still being held on Sunday and Monday evenings. Come and join add some sparkle into your life! Check out our Facebook event page for more information.

https://www.facebook.com/events/348676491504145/

"Many groups like ourselves are still struggling to get back to pre-Covid membership levels, so we have lost a couple of our regular show hosts," said Director Caroline Bruner Cuff.

"So we are putting out a call to any new groups interested in partnering with us to treat their members to a great night out, while raising funds for their group at the same time."

"Matuku Community Theatre is true community theatre. All the cast and crew are volunteers, the show content is put together by the group, with rehearsals well underway for this year's show. We are keen to continue the legacy of giving back to the community by having local groups as our audience," said Ms Bruner Cuff.

Show dates available are Friday and Saturday nights: 18-19 August, Fri & Sat 25-26 August, and Fri 1 Sept.

Contact stgsumernz@gmail.com to book a night.

The group agreed on a theme "Sumner Lovin" representing the community's interests after participants shared their thoughts and recommendations. Numerous programs were suggested and listed, with attendees eager to join in the creative process.

The Ideas Night also welcomed new volunteers, allowing theatre fans to demonstrate their skills, from backstage help to acting and directing.

Sarah Mankelow, president of the group, expressed gratitude for the community's continuous support and for the Ideas Night participants who actively submitted suggestions for future performances.

The evening was a great success, leaving everyone eager for the following performances. With such a passionate and inventive community, 2023 should be a fantastic year for theatre.

Tickets include supper and a complimentary glass of bubbly, with live music from local band Baysix, and demonstration dances from Sumner Ballroom Dance School.

"Its a wee bit ironic that now that the mandatory mask-wearing is lifted in most public places that the first thing we do is throw a masked event, but we hope everyone will embrace the idea," says group President Sarah Mankelow.

"Its been a hard couple of years for our community and our theatre company and we hope this will be a fantastic, glamourous fun night, as well as raising necessary funds to cover our storage costs."

The new community centre does not have storage space for the theatre company's costume collection gathered over 50 years. Following a call for help in the Bay Harbour News, Ferrymead Lions came forward and offered the use of a board room in their 'Lion's Den' for our costume storage needs.

"However we still need to raise additional funds to cover the rent," says Ms Mankelow.

"It is significantly less that paying for commercial storage but it's still an additional cost that we are struggling to meet following two years of Covid-related impacts so we hope this black tie event will bring us back into the black. "

Tickets are available online.

Group President Sarah Mankelow says Matuku Community Theatre is open to anyone that wants to get a taste of performing and has a long history of acceptance.

The group has been going for over 50 years in the heart of this beach-side community, putting on an annual cabaret show to raise funds for local community groups.

Brian Donovan was a member of the group from 1987-1990 and remembers it as one of the most enjoyable episodes of his life.

"While I was not much of an actor, pretty hopeless at singing and dancing, I was welcomed into the group which produced some of the best amateur productions of any comparable groups in Christchurch," says Mr Donovan.

"Lighting, props, costumes and live music were top class. Some of the performers, particularly the women produced some dazzling dance routines. The Rocky Horror show was one of the more memorable. We also supported other theatre groups like Halswell by going to their shows," he said.

"I also have memories of the things that did not go so well, and one was an occasion where my on stage companion in one show had imbibed too many whiskeys before hand and his dialogue was nothing like in the script. I had to play along and try and get to a cue which brought on the chorus, but it was a struggle and the scene was extended a bit longer than it should have. I still remember coming off stage drenched in sweat as I had no idea where the scene was going to end up!"

Mr Donovan went on to perform for other local theatre companies but credits his time with Sumner Theatre Group for the confidence to be able to improvise on the go.

"My last theatrical stuff was actually for Excaliburs Theatre Restaurant in Gloucester St I was employed as a floor service character where you improvised in your character and interacted with the customers. I loved this!"

Sumner Theatre Group changed its name in 2019, to connect to their new home in the Matuku Takotako Sumner Centre. Sign-up night is Sunday 15 May at 7pm.