Newspaper Article 2014 – Involvement in theatre spanned 30 years

Involvement in theatre spanned 30 years

OBITUARY

The Hawke’s Bay theatre community lost one of its most colourful and creative characters when, as one member of the show and stage fraternity put it, Chris Green took his final curtain call.

Mr Green passed away at Cranford Hospice, with his family around him, on May 25.

He was 61.

Tessa May Brown has long been a part of the region’s theatre community and she described Mr Green’s death as a huge loss, but echoed what all those who had come into contact with him through the years had said – that their lives were enriched for the better through having met him, known him and worked with him.

Mr Green’s involvement in theatre spanned 30 years and he built a great reputation as a set designer having studied commercial art and design in Australia during his youth.

Mrs Brown said that, during her long career on stage, the set Mr Green designed for The Sound Of Music, which was staged in Hamilton about six years ago and which she had the major role of Mother Superior, was one of the finest she had ever seen.

“It was absolutely amazing – stunning.”

Mr Green, who lived in Hastings, and wife Karen were both heavily involved in theatre, and the diversity and creativity of his set design work was widely acknowledged.

It was also internationally acknowledged, with Mr Green travelling overseas to work on set design, construction and painting – on one occasion he bumped into Hollywood star Chuck Norris on a beach in Antigua where he was working on murals.

He once described working in theatre as “the ultimate buzz” and “exhilarating”.

“It is absolutely amazing. It is chaos – controlled chaos – but chaos all the same.”

Mrs Brown described Mr Green as a man who was extremely gifted but humble about what he did and achieved.

“He was so gracious in sharing his talents.”

She said, on the many occasions she had been involved in productions Mr Green was overseeing design for, he would happily impart his knowledge to others.

“His gift of giving was as great as his many talents.”

Mr Green was also musical, having taught himself to play piano, and while he preferred the backstage roles he did once try his hand at acting during a Frivs Jubilee Show after one of the cast pulled out.

“A great experience,” he said afterwards.

“But one I’m not keen to repeat.”

He was a life member and past president of Theatre Hawke’s Bay and worked with the Napier Operatic Society, Napier Frivolity Minstrels and the Hastings Operatic Society.

He was involved in well over 100 productions including major shows like Hello Dolly, My Fair Lady, Oklahoma, Me and My Girl and Annie Get Your Gun.

“His gift of giving was as great as his many talents.”
Tessa May Brown

As well as set design Mr Green also excelled at costume/make-up design – working on Cats back in 2007 where he created 32 feline faces for the cast and last year on The Phantom of the Opera where he created the unique prosthetics as well as special effects.

“Chris was devoted to theatre,” Mrs Brown said.

“He was a very special person – one of a kind”.

Mr Green was also a highly respected retired member of the Fire Service where he served as senior firefighter.

Fittingly, his funeral service was held at the Hastings Fire Service.

He is survived by wife Karen, their four children and 10 grandchildren.

Photo caption – ARTIST: Chris Green (left) preparing another brush stroke of skill when he worked with fellow artist Pip Jones to create The Phantom of the Opera features for actor Karl Perigo last year.   PHOTO/FILE