Amateur Theatre Guild

The Amateur Theatre Guild was an amateur theatre organisation in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha). From 1962, known as Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild.

(In fact there is some confusion in the records about the differences between the Theatre Guild (1951-1958), the Amateur Theatre Guild (1961-1963) and the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild (1962-).)

Founding and history

Port Elizabeth's Amateur Theatre Guild was founded in 1961 by members of the cast of King Lear which was produced 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.

Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild Foundation Members included Andre Huguenet, Will Jamieson, Gladys Baynes, Helen Wilkins and Noel Cudmore.

Founding "members" included Christine Roberts, George Jones, Jill Shepherd, Alan Williams, and David Hemmings. 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.

However, according to the March 1985, edition of Scenaria magazine (Issue no 50), The Company of Four assumed the name of the Amateur Theatre Guild from 1951 till 1958 when it became the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild.

Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild and the Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival

From 1960 to 1966, the Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival was produced and managed by the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild. From 1967 to 1971, the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild entered into an association with the Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society, producing joint productions. From 1972, the Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival operated independently, essentially absorbing the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild.

Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild productions

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.

1961: Our Town, Rope, The Lark and 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 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.

1966: The Mikado, (with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society.)

1967: Oklahoma!, (with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society.)

1967: The King and I (with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society.)

1968: Brigadoon (with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society.)

1969: The Student Prince '(with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society.)

1969: Romeo and Juliet, presented by the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild and the Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society, directed by Helen Mann, with Edith Porter, Jeremy Baylis, Colin Stevens, Roy Williams, Alf Porter, Alice Krige.

1970: The Desert Song (with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society.)

1970: Twelfth Night, presented by the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild and the Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society, directed by Leslie French. Starring: Jeremy Baylis, Helen Mann, Roy Williams, Alf Porter, Leslie French.

1971: The Merchant of Venice (for the Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society.) Directed by Leslie French. Starring: Jeremy Baylis, Helen Mann, Roy Williams, Alf Porter, Leslie French.

1971: Oliver

1972: Everyman.

1972: A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Sound of Music.

Sources

Sunday Tribune, February 11, 1962.

Evening Post, April 10, 1963.

Eastern Province Herald April 20, April 17, 1963.

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