Difference between revisions of "Amateur Theatre Guild"

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The [[Amateur Theatre Guild]] was an amateur theatre organisation in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha). From 1962, known as '''[[Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild]]'''.
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#REDIRECT [[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 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]].)
 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 
 
 
== Return to ==
 
 
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Venues|South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc ]]
 
 
 
Return to [[South_African_Festivals]]
 
 
 
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
 
 
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 

Latest revision as of 14:46, 13 August 2024

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