Grahamstown Amateur Dramatic Society

The Grahamstown Amateur Dramatic Society (GADS) was an English-language amateur dramatic society in Grahamstown.

It is uncertain what, if any, connection it has with previous societies with similar names.

Architect John English and Joan English, nee Joan Spencer-Watson, were two prominent residents who joined the Grahamstown Amateur Dramatic Society, circa 1964, where they acted and where he was a set and stage designer for many years.

Productions

April 1947: Doreen Mullins produced Sydney Blow's 1918 three-act play Lord Richard in the Pantry for the Grahamstown Amateur Dramatic Society. Starring Tommy Norwood as "Lord Richard", Yvonne Mather-Pike as his ladye faire, Peter Harvey as the perfect butler, Doreen Manley as the adenoidal cook. Others in the cast include Lilian Adler, Phyllis Driver, Peggy Hutton, Yvonne Eales, Noel Hounsell, Douglas Thomson, Ron Hepburn, and Edgar Nock.

August 16, 1947: GADS competed in the District Festival by staging Flash Back, produced by Madge Foster and starring Linda Slater and Bill McHendrie.

October 25, 1947; The Grahamstown Amateur Dramatic Society travelled to Port Elizabeth where they performed Lady Killer at the Walmer Town Hall. Starring Wingfield Digby and eight other actors.

1969: Toad of Toad Hall

1974: The Circus Adventure

Sources

Saturday Post, April 12, 1947.

Saturday Post, August 23, 1947.

Saturday Post, September 27, 1947.

https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Richard-pantry-play-three/dp/B0008CJ8NU

https://www.artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/archframes.php?archid=6151&countadd=1

Greyvenstein, Walter 1988. The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.

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