Night at the Alhambra

As part of this year’s Heritage Festival Peter Wells presented ‘The Life of Freda Stark”    The evening was held at  Ponsonby’s Alhambra Restaurant which resides in the old Britannia Theatre, which serendipitously was one of Thomas O’Brien’s Auckland theatres.    

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    The audience comprised those who knew Freda and those who were sorry they had not known her but were eager to learn more of her courageous and wonderful life.    Peter presented the introductory clip from his and Stewart Main’s film, ‘The Mighty Civic’ which introduced those legendary dancers of the 1940’s.   

    Present in the audience were Lenore Truscott (née Upton), the fan dancer extraordinaire!.  Diane Miller, her niece, Andrea Gregory, daughter of Regina Raye, dancer, designer, and choreographer for the 1940’s troupe, who regrettably was unable to attend; Ken Porter, close friend of Freda, Diane Haworth,co author with Diane of the biography of Freda, Friends of the Civic including Linda Nash, Jan Natush, Peter Keys, last century’s manager of the Civic, Eric Kearney. Marshall Watt, artist who had created replicas of the costumes worn by the dancer and had created several busts of Freda; celebrated photographer and artist Diana Wong - and many more!    

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    The audience were invited to speak of their memories of Freda and many loving and humorous tributes were presented to the appreciative audience.    This was a nostalgic conclusion to the successful open days at the Civic the previous weekend and illustrated just how import this icon is to the people of Auckland and New Zealand.