Western News: December 19, 2017

WESTERN NEWS Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Tuesday December 19 2017 11
News
Drama group to premiere
romantic Aussie musical
Local
News
Now
Fire rages, homes at risk
• By Emily O’Connell
THE HALSWELL Drama
Group will be the first in
the country to premiere an
Australian musical written by
the brother of a Wiggle.
It will be taking the stage with
Who Loves Me? in August.
The musical is written by
Australian singer and songwriter
John Field.
Halswell Drama Group
vice-president Tim Gunther
said they’re “really excited” to
perform the musical.
He said Mr Field’s brother,
Anthony Field, co-founded The
Wiggles.
Mr Field helped his brother
write some of the music for the
popular children’s show.
Mr Gunther said the Field
family are well known in Australia
as successful musicians,
writers and actors.
Who Loves Me? follows the
story of Enzo Bellini, proprietor
of Bellini’s Cafe, whose one last
wish is to see his heartbroken
daughter Sophia Bellini happy
again.
Sophia finds herself on a giant
billboard across from the cafe
put up by her father, proclaiming
her “the jewel of the city” and
inviting interested suitors to call
into Bellini’s Cafe.
Not long after, a second new
billboard appears with a mysterious
inscription – but who was
responsible for it?
Mr Gunther said they’re
planning on doing six shows,
ENTERTAINMENT: Who
Loves Me? author John
Field is not the only musical
member in his family – his
brother Anthony (left) is the
co-founder of the popular
children’s show The Wiggles.
with the opening night being on
August 17.
He said there’s additional pressure
for the cast, with Mr Field
planning to travel across the Tasman
for the opening night.
Mr Gunther said cast auditions
will be in March and he would
like to “encourage people to put
themselves out there.”
•For auditioning information,
email Halswelldramagroup@
outlook.com.
SUCCESSFUL: The man
behind Who Loves Me? John
Field with Origin Theatrical
managing director Kim
Ransley. ​
IMPROVEMENTS: The Westside Community Trust wants to
revamp Sockburn Park and its paddling pool. ​
Community bid to
revamp Sockburn Park
• By Emily O’Connell
A COMMUNITY trust is
looking at what it can do to
revamp Sockburn Park so it
can be a hub for locals.
Westside Community Trust
went to the Halswell-Hornby-
Riccarton Community Board
with suggestions for the park
in September.
The trust requested toilets.
and a clean-up for the paddling
pool and barbecue area.
The park’s pool was closed
11 years ago through the city
council’s 2006 Aquatics Facilities
Plan and the 2006-16 Long
Term Council Community
Plan.
The city council presented a
report to the community board
last week which indicated
nothing can be done in the
near future.
“Staff have included such
a bid to be added to the draft
capital porgramme to be prioritised
alongside other potential
projects for the 2019-29 Long
Term Plan,” the report said.
The report also said the
funding for the park would be
in two stages.
“Twenty thousand dollars for
planning in 2026 and $200,000
for implementation in 2027.
This funding is subject to city
council approval,” the report
said.
The trust’s programme
co-ordinator Julie Young said
they had hoped it could have
been done sooner but is glad
their suggestions are being
considered.
“We will work with the ctiy
council and other interested
organisations who would like
to see the park become a strong
community hub,” she said.
Mrs Young said the next step
is for them to see what can be
done in the short term.
“I think it has lots of scope
and we’re trying to help the
community to connect more,”
she said.