Theatre Guild

There were at least four companies which went by a name including the phrase "Theatre Guild"

THIS ARTICLE IS STILL BEING EDITED

Theatre Guild - Johannesburg

Presented The Lady of the Rose in 1946.

The Theatre Guild - East London

See the East London Theatre Guild Association

Theatre Guild in Port Elizabeth

Sources suggest three groups in Port Elizabeth using the name Theatre Guild over a period of twenty years in the 20th century, or the name appears in three variations:

Theatre Guild (seemingly 1951-1958)

This group appears to be associated with/inaugurated by a theatre company called The Company of Four. Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild Foundation Members included Andre Huguenet, Will Jamieson, Gladys Baynes, Helen Wilkins and Noel Cudmore.

Productions produced by the Theatre Guild:

1952: A Phoenix Too Far 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.

The Amateur Theatre Guild (1961-1963)

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.

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.

The Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild (1962-1972)

This organisation appears to be closely associated to the Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival.

Note:

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.

Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild

1960 saw three productions, Rope and Our Town for the Juvenile Guidance Committee, and King Lear for the Red Cross.

On May 10, 1960, the Shakespearean Festival was inaugurated and basically replaced the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild.

Sources

Sunday Tribune, February 11, 1962.

Evening Post, April 10, 1963.

Eastern Province Herald April 20, April 17, 1963.

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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