Les Miserables Full Scale Set for Sale / Hireage. Used in JPC Player's Production in March 2007,  Directed by Robert Young.  Rebuilt from the Australian Designs. Please contact Richard Nairn at richardnairn@xtra.co.nz  or on 027 4455669 for further queries.

Name Change for LDPS Museum and Theatre Consultancy, LDPS, has evolved to become GREAT LEAP FORWARD. In the latest stage in our development, it became clear that our name and brand was not keeping pace with our work. The Great Leap Forward is not, as many may think, a direct reference to Mao's policy of modernisation in the 1950's (although our development may be memorable!), but a sign that we have developed from a small technical design company to a full service museum and theatre development consultancy. Great Leap Forward will continue to provide a personal service to our clients, but by bringing more skilled members of the team on board we will be able to offer much more! For Consulting services and General Enquiries '" Grant Collie 0275 396 150 grant@greatleapforward.co.nz or go to www.greatleapforward.co.nz

Charities Commission encourages early registration - As you know, charitable organisations have until 1 July 2008 to register under the Charities Act before tax laws change and some existing exemptions (from income tax and estate and gift duty) end. Until recently, we suggested that you might wish to apply for registration after your AGM. But lower than expected application volumes and feedback from potential applicants indicate that the Commission is likely to receive a very large number of applications between September 2007 and July 2008. This could lead to longer processing times and uncertainty for applicants in terms of their tax liability. One way to avoid this uncertainty is to apply now. Before the Register opened, we estimated it would take about 30 working days to process an application. However, we have found that this time varies depending on the quantity and complexity of applications we are working on at any one time. Currently, it takes around eight to ten weeks for the Commission to process a standard application. This is a guide only - it may take longer if we find your application incomplete or need to clarify something with you. While the Charities Act does allow the Commission to backdate registration, we cannot backdate incomplete applications. If we receive your application close to 1 July 2008, but it is incomplete, this could have a significant impact on your existing tax exemptions. There is no need to wait until after your AGM before applying for registration. If you apply and successfully register now, then make changes at your AGM that you need to notify us about, simply do this by using the appropriate form. Or, if your application is still being considered by us, write to let us know about the changes you have made. To apply to register an individual organisation, you need: * Form 1 - Application for registration as an individual charitable entity (completed in hard copy or online at www.charities.govt.nz ) * Form 2 - Officer Certification Form - one copy for each of your officers * A copy of your rules and all amendments. You don't need to send a copy of your accounts or annual financial statement with your application. We recommend that you consider applying as soon as possible. Look out for further information soon in our next Charities Commission Update. Joanne Dean Communications Advisor Charities Commission Komihana Kaupapa Atawhai www.charities.govt.nz

A new musical from Samuel French Ltd. – hardly traditional, M Rated -  SAUCY JACK AND THE SPACE VIXENS, a high energy electronic musical set in a futuristic cabaret bar where the audience actually are the punters in the bar. Performed in and around tables rather than on a traditional stage set-up, its raunchy dance music score and intense atmosphere completely envelopes the audience and leaves them screaming for more. This vibrant, fully interactive show can be played in a wide variety of spaces from theatres to bars, and is set to a contemporary score available on backing tracks. Set in a seedy cabaret bar presided over by the alluring and charismatic saucy Jack himself, all is not well – danger lurks in every corner as the cabaret acts are being picked off by a serial killer. Vulva Savannah, promising entertainer and torch-song singer, has just become the latest victim of the sling back killer and the Space Vixens arrive to solve the mystery. These interstellar, super-fashion crime fighters are here to save the day by the Power of Disco and they hit the ground singing the explosive house anthem “Glitter Boots Saved My Life”!  Contact Bill Griffith at the Play Bureau for further information

A LITTLE GOSSIP! is a weekly e-bulletin for people working in the arts & entertainment industry including actors, dancers, singers, musicians, producers, arts companies, publicists, journalists, designers, technicians, media, writers, agents, directors, politicians and arts & entertainment lovers. It aims to keep everyone in the arts and entertainment industry in touch and up to date with all that goes on around Australia and beyond. If you have something that you would like to contribute, then please feel free to email: gossip@alittlegossip.com.au  Deadline for submissions is the Wednesday prior to publication. Check out www.alittlegossip.com.au to subscribe

The amateur rights to CATS are available to amateur theatre groups in New Zealand from 2008 (upon application and approval). Contact Kim Ransley.  To hire the CATS NZ build, enquiries should go to geoff@showbiz.org.nz  

Want to get the most out of those old stage lights and save money?
As a professional lighting designer I travel NZ lighting shows from Auckland Theatre Company in the North to The Court Theatre in the South. I stage lighting seminars in smaller theatres and talk to technicians and societies around the country.
One issue common to all is lean budgets. Buying lighting equipment is an expensive investment. Without good maintenance this investment is wasted. I frequently see companies with good older stock sitting in a corner with a’ fix me’ note or worse attached to them These same companies usually complain at the lack of equipment available and yet there it languishes.  One of the common problems with this equipment is lamp-base failure or the expensive older lamps used in the early luminaires are not viable. Both Selecon and Strand made luminaires with these old push-and-turn lamp bases including the Stand Pattern 23, 123 and Selecon SF500. As a lighting designer I find many of these old lights still have a place on stage in particular the Strand Pattern 23, I am sure many of you would agree, is still a pretty remarkable light and still very useful.

At Limeburner they decided to give these lights another chance. Using skilled engineers they designed a simple, retrofit base unit replacing the old lamp base altogether. This utilises the modern bulbs used in most of today’s sub 1000w lights. Not only are these bulbs brighter but also they are cheaper (Treasures take note)!  Its called the C-Block and as just $75 (less than a light bulb) you get the whole unit ready to simply screw and wire in. No drilling or guessing lamp height or position. Supplied with new screws, earth tab and simple instructions these little units get your old stage luminaires up out of that corner and back on stage where they belong. Contact:  www.limeburner.co.nz   for direct supply - Phillip Dexter - Lighting Designer 

New page for the MTNZ website.  A page solely dedicated to dance with information from DANZ (Dance Aotearoa New Zealand).  Click here

Theatre Comrades Database Website Theatre Comrades is a new Wellington based non-profit database website for theatre collaborators. Their aim is to establish an ongoing network that supports, initiates and promotes theatre work in the Wellington performing arts community. Theatre makers will be able to register on the site, post-upcoming projects and access profiles for potential collaborations with playwrights, directors, designers, actors, technicians and other artists. Theatre Comrades is the initiative of Megan Peacock (daughter of the famous keeper of the conference virg*ins Valda), and Sally Richards. I attended the launch, which in true Theatre Comrades style, had a Russian theme – sigh, straight vodka!! But it is a great initiative and you can put your profile on there, so check out http://www.theatrecomrades.co.nz/