Lifestyle villages to promote festival for residents

Kay Fergusson (left), Mary Wilson and Dulcie Fisher, from Copper Crest Village Estate will be getting on board an idea to bring a bigger audience to the Tauranga Performing Arts Festival. Photo / George Novak

Hearing of the poor audience attendance at Tauranga's Festival of Performing Arts has spurred a lifestyle village into action.

The Bay of Plenty Times reported yesterday that judges and teachers involved in the festival were wondering how to boost public interest in the event which was seeing talented youngsters giving their best performances to a near-empty theatre. An idea was floated by one teacher that retirement and lifestyle villages could bring their residents to the affordable $2 per session event.

Copper Crest Village Estate village manager Astrid Martin said she was happy to come on board and would promote it among her residents to try and get van-loads to the performances.

Mrs Martin said she thought the problem was that many people did not know it was on and how entertaining it was, or it would be better attended.

Resident and events co-ordinator Kay Fergusson said she regularly organised outings to Baycourt and would spread word about the festival.

"I've been before and really enjoyed it."

Other retirement and lifestyle villages in Tauranga were also looking at taking part.

Althorp Village manager Claire Neshat said the village always offered transportation to events of public interest, but she had not been made aware of the festival to do so for this event.

If the village was made aware of the event in advance, it was something they could attend in future. Ocean Shores Village receptionist Judy Hume said there were sometimes big time lags between performances, which could deter some residents. She said the village would see if residents were interested in attending next year's event.

The 58th Festival of Performing Arts, which started on Friday continues all this week, culminating in a concert on Sunday. The festival attracts the cream of young performers from the upper North Island, showcasing disciplines including speech and drama, singing, instrumental, Highland dancing, tap, ballet and modern dance. During the festival 3000 items will be performed by those classified as beginners to those on the cusp of professional training.