PITT ST CHURCH WILL CELEBRATE CIVIL UNIONS

Pitt Street members have given their support to their church building being used for Civil Union celebrations and minister Rev Dr Lynne Frith will be applying to become a celebrant.

When the Civil Union Bill was being discussed in 2004, Lynne, who was based in Wellington at the time, went on record as supporting it. In December that year she said Christian support comes from the heart of the gospel.

The news agency Scoop quoted her as saying: "This is a matter both of human rights and gospel justice. Further, common decency demands that the same rights should apply to all committed relationships. This can only strengthen society as a whole."

Civil Unions can be made between same-sex or heterosexual couples. They give similar legal protection to that given by marriage. And the rights are further spelled out in other legislation such as the Property (Relationships) Act.

Civil Union agreements do not give equal rights to adoption, nor the right for a spouse to be automatically eligible for New Zealand citizenship.

We hope to get an interview with Lynne on this topic in a later issue.

OUR DRAMA TEAM GETS 19 NOMINATIONS

Pilgrim Productions, the drama group that shelters under the wing of Pitt St Methodist Church has received a phenomenal 19 award nominations for its 2009 plays.

Pilgrim is a tiny organization compared with some other Auckland theatre groups, but it is setting a standard up with the best of them. A number of visiting actors have paid tribute to its standard, and keep coming back. Many of these and others on the Pilgrim team come from Pitt St Church. Congratulations.

 When you notice that three of the nominated people are leaving Auckland this year, you'll appreciate that Pilgrim needs new members to help keep up this standard. (see details below)

Charing Cross Road sets record

84 Charing Cross Road (see picture) set a record by getting Auckland Community Theatre (ACTT) nominations in all categories: leading female (Lynn Webster), leading male (Bruce Weston), best director (Richard Purro), supporting male (Andrew Gordon), supporting female (Kerry Thornton and Karen Yates), best female in a minor role (Glenda Matchett), male in a minor role (Geoff Barlow), set design (Peter Carr), stage management (Mary Boyd), lighting design (David Powell), sound design (Peter Carr and Jacqui Rice) and best properties (Glenda Matchett).

Charing Cross also received Northern Area Performance Theatre Awards (NAPTA) nominations for best actress (Lynn Webster again), best actor (Bruce Weston again) and best play.

The Pope also wins acclaim

Pilgrim's earlier play, The Day they Kidnapped the Pope received a NAPTA nomination for best actress (Lynn Webster, yet again).

And in the ACTT awards, Pope received nominations for best male in a leading role (Anthony Carroll), best male in a supporting role (Dennis Petrone) and best supporting female (Lillian Shaddick). Chris Webb was nominated for best set design, Mary Boyd for best properties and Marion Hines for best costume design.

 If you can't beat them, why not join them?

Like to join this winning team? As well as the stars who make the above awards, Pilgrim needs people to do publicity, people to paint sets, etc, etc.

Interested? Contact chairman Marion Hines, on 376-6583 or marionanddavid@orcon.net.nz.