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12 January 2011

Summerdaze 2011 brings laughter to Queenstown Gardens

Listen for the sound of laughter reverberating around Queenstown Gardens next week (Friday 21 to Sunday 23 January) as Remarkable Theatre brings its comedy entertainment to the great outdoors with the help of SKYCITY Queenstown Casino Community Trust.

As part of Summerdaze 2011, the performing-arts group will stage a series of well-known comic scenes, aptly entitled “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gardens…” from various scenic spots around the gardens.

To help with the production, the group received $2,500 from SKYCITY Queenstown Casino Community Trust from its 2010 funding round. Funding has helped contribute towards costs associated with staging the performances.

Remarkable Theatre was formed from the Queenstown Shakespeare Trust and produces non-musical live theatre in the Queenstown Lakes district. This is the second year that it has performed an intimate open air show for the Summerdaze festival. This year the programme is made up of comic scenes, skits and songs from modern and contemporary theatre.

Chair Jane Robertson said the acting group enjoyed performing in the gardens and greatly appreciated support from SKYCITY Queenstown Casino Community Trust.

“Remarkable Theatre looks forward to being a part of this special local event each year and there couldn’t be a more beautiful stage setting than Queenstown Gardens, overlooking Queenstown Bay and The Remarkables mountain range,” she said.

“Audiences will be led on a 60 minute ‘promenade theatre’ through the Gardens, with a different scene occurring at each location. It requires a huge amount of rehearsal and commitment to prepare for Summerdaze, so it’s fantastic for SKYCITY to show their encouragement and offer us financial assistance – we’re hugely grateful.”

Tours for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gardens start at the main gates to Queenstown Gardens, on Park Street. They begin at 6pm and 8pm on Friday 21 January, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 8pm on Saturday 22 January and 2pm, 4pm and 6pm on Sunday 23 January. Cost is free with a gold coin donation and no bookings are required.

SKYCITY Queenstown Casino Executive Manager Michelle Baillie said the company aimed to support and encourage local entertainment and events in the region through the Community Trust and various sponsorships.

“Summerdaze showcases some of the region’s tremendous entertainment talent and Remarkable Theatre is a highlight on the festival programme. It’s a pleasure to help them to stage this fantastic production through funding from our Trust,” she said.

SKYCITY Queenstown Casino Community Trust distributed a total of $95,378 to 44 community groups in the Queenstown Lakes in its 2010 recipient round.

SKYCITY Queenstown Casino has been a proud member of the Queenstown community for ten years and over the past eight years has distributed more than $900,000 to 249 community groups in the region.

Applications for funding from the SKYCITY Queenstown Casino Community Trust are sought every June. For more information visit the community website section on www.skycityqueenstown.co.nz

For more information about Remarkable Theatre and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gardens please contact Jane Robertson at janer@qldc.govt.nz or visit www.remarkabletheatre.org.nz.

ENDS

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