Theatre Guild
There were at least four companies which went by a name including the phrase "Theatre Guild"
Contents
THIS ARTICLE IS STILL BEING EDITED
Theatre Guild - Johannesburg
Presented The Lady of the Rose in 1946.
The Theatre Guild - East London
The East London Theatre Guild Association was an organisation of local societies established to raise funds for the building of a theatre in East London, later called the Guild Theatre.
For more information, see the East London Theatre Guild Association
Theatre Guild in Port Elizabeth
The Theatre Guild in Port Elizabeth was an association that regularly staged amateur productions, often on behalf of other organisations. It operated in Port Elizabeth between 1952 and 1972, and over the years is billed variously as the Theatre Guild, the Port Elizabeth Amateur Theatre Guild, and the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild.
Note:
Some sources suggest the Amateur Theatre Guild was founded in 1960 by cast members of King Lear, but there is evidence of productions being presented by the Amateur Theatre Guild in the 1950s. According to the March 1985, edition of Scenaria magazine (Issue no 50) and Wright and Gubb's article in Shakespeare in Southem Africa, The Company of Four assumed the name of the Amateur Theatre Guild from 1951 till 1958 when it became the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild.
One source has Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild Foundation Members include Andre Huguenet, Will Jamieson, Gladys Baynes, Helen Wilkins and Noel Cudmore. Another suggests founding "members" include Christine Roberts, George Jones, Jill Shepherd, Alan Williams, and David Hemmings.
The 1960 narrative:
Port Elizabeth's Amateur Theatre Guild was founded in 1960 by Helen Mann, Bruce Mann and other members of the cast of King Lear which was produced at the Port Elizabeth Opera House in that year. The group cooperated so well together that they decided to form a new organisation under the name Amateur Theatre Guild.
During their first year they produced Our Town, Rope, Tea and Sympathy, and The Lark. Hundreds of people were unable to see The Lark because the season, fully booked, could not be extended as no other suitable venue could be found. These four productions raised well over R4 000-00 for various charities.
The Amateur Theatre Guild was unique in South Africa as it had no funds, no members as such, no committee, no secretary and no constitution.
By August 1962, the Amateur Theatre Guild was calling itself the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild.
The Theatre Guild first ventured into Shakespeare in 1963 when Will Jamieson was invited to produce Hamlet. Jim Shorrock gave a fine performance as the Prince, and even earned commendation in a British theatre magazine whose editor happened to be in Port Elizabeth at the time. John Hamber portrayed Polonius. The play went very well, although there were a few mishaps which turned out to be more amusing than disastrous. The Queen's bed collapsed; the recorded voice of the Ghost came in a little too early and was immediately cut off so that one heard "SW- (silence) - EAR! " Osric forgot a crucial line in the duel scene and Hamlet and Laertes had to fight on until he remembered it and lastly, there was a mix-up when the poison cup was passed around.
To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the birth of Shakespeare in 1964 the Theatre Guild presented The Taming of the Shrew which was produced by Will Jamieson. Costume makers and set builders excelled themselves. On the festival night a cake in the shape of the original Globe Theatre was cut ceremoniously and every member of the audience received a piece. The main roles were acted by Helen Mann and Brian Gaven while Gordon Roberts' portrayed Grumio. Roy Williams established himself as the local theatre's finest comic actor. The occasion was further marked by a goodwill message from the mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon.
From 1960 to 1966, the guild presented a number of productions for a variety of organisations and charities, including the Red Cross, the Hellenic Community, the University of Port Elizabeth and The Company of Four.
Between August 10 & 14, 1965, the Theatre Guild staged a Shakespearean play for the opening of the University of Port Elizabeth. Margaret Inglis produced Much Ado about Nothing at the Port Elizabeth Opera House. Helen Mann as Beatrice and Gordon Roberts as Benedick while Alfred Porter portrayed Dogberry.
Shortly after this Theatre Guild combined with the Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society. In order to build up funds the combined resources of the new organisation were used to produce musicals.
From 1966 to 1971, the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild entered into an association with the Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society, producing joint productions. From 1971, the Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival began to operate independently, with the two organisations (Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival and Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society) essentially absorbing the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild.
Productions staged by the Theatre Guild:
1952: A Phoenix Too Frequent for The Company of Four.
1953: Private Lives as their entry for Pemads Salter's Cup.
1954: Sorry, Wrong Number as their entry for Pemads Salter's Cup.
1955: The Snow Goose as their entry for Pemads Salter's Cup. They also produced Home and Beauty for the Port Elizabeth Jewish Guild.
1956: Miranda.
1957: Hands Across the Sea for the Salter's Cup.
1958: A Child is Born.
1959: Dial M for Murder for The Company of Four.
1960: King Lear, presented by the Theatre Guild for the Red Cross, directed by Will Jamieson, with John Hamber, Helen Mann, Andre Huguenet, Gordon Roberts, Lorna Levenson, Paddye Bunce.
1960: Our Town, Rope for the Juvenile Guidance Committee
1961: The Lark, Tea and Sympathy
1962: Five Finger Exercise at the Port Elizabeth City Hall (February 20 - 24), Rape of the Belt, Death of a Salesman at the Port Elizabeth City Hall, directed by David Barnett - producer, with setting by Patsy Barnett, with David Barnett (Willy Loman), Helen Mann (Linda), Brian Gaven (Biff), Colin Ward (Happy), Alan Williams (Bernard), Ursula Burnett (Woman), John Hamber (Charley), Raymond Howell (Uncle Ben), Gerry Baker (Howard Wagner), Antoinette Assemaine (Jenny), Tommy Walker (Stanley), Jill Shepherd (Miss Forsythe), Cynthia Harvey (Letta) and Rob Binnell (Waiter).
1963: The Queen and the Rebels
1963: Hamlet, presented by the Amateur Theatre Guild for the Red Cross, directed by Will Jamieson. Starring: John Hamber, Helen Mann, Helen Wilkins, Philip Jackson, Alf Porter, Jim Shorrock.
1964: The Taming of the Shrew, presented by the Theatre Guild for the Hellenic Community, directed by Will Jamieson. Starring John Hamber, Helen Mann, Helen Wilkins, Roy Williams, Alf Porter, and Gordon Roberts.
1964: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (for the P E Civic Theatre Fund),
1965: Much Ado About Nothing, presented by the Theatre Guild for the University of Port Elizabeth. Directed by Margaret Inglis. Starring John Hambler, Helen Mann, Clive Selley, Derek Scarr, Alf Porter, Gordon Roberts.
Productions staged jointly by the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild and the Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society:
1966: The Mikado
1967: Oklahoma!
1967: The King and I
1968: Brigadoon
1969: The Student Prince
1969: Romeo and Juliet, directed by Helen Mann, with Edith Porter, Jeremy Baylis, Colin Stevens, Roy Williams, Alf Porter, Alice Krige.
1970: The Desert Song
1970: Twelfth Night, directed by Leslie French. Starring: Jeremy Baylis, Helen Mann, Roy Williams, Alf Porter, Leslie French.
1971: The Merchant of Venice, directed by Leslie French. Starring: Jeremy Baylis, Helen Mann, Roy Williams, Alf Porter, Leslie French.
1972: Everyman
No further productions were staged under the name of the Theatre Guild after this.
Sources
Sunday Tribune, February 11, 1962.
Evening Post, April 10, 1963.
Eastern Province Herald April 20, April 17, 1963.
Lantern magazine, December 1970, "Shakespeare In Port Elizabeth" by Alfred Porter.
Percy Tucker, 1997
The Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival - book, 1982.
Laurence Wright and Lin Gubb. 'A Tribute to "Stratford-on-Baakens": Thirty Years of the Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival'. Shakespeare in Southem Africa Vol. 3. 1989. 1-8.
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