George Society of Arts

The George Society of Arts and the George Arts Theatre are Non-Profit Organisations that seek to keep theatre alive in George.

The George Society of Arts

Formed as an adjunct to the National Council of Women in 1948, it was a Non-Profit Public Benefits organisation that consisted of a handful of members, under the guidance and inspiration of Mrs. Mary Heunis.

The George Society of Arts () was founded in 1948 and, for many years, staged its productions in the local Town Hall. One or two plays were staged every year, performed in the Old Town Hall for a couple of nights at a time, drawing an average of 275 people to a production. With no sets of its own, the Society presented its plays against the three rather tatty Municipal backdrops – the kitchen scene, the baronial hall and the shady wood.

In 1958, with the advent of Peter Painter’s interest, assistance and great skill, the Society became more ambitious and produced scenery for each play.

Ultimately, with only R200 in the bank, the enthusiasm and support of members and the public of George, the Society leased an old cafe and converted it into an intimate theatre, seating under 100 persons.

The original “Arts Theatre” was born in Davidson Road on December 5, 1962 and was opened by Prof. Donald Inskip, the vice principal of the University of Cape Town and Director of The Little Theatre from then until October, 1969.

In 1969, the Society acquired a theatre of its own – the only amateur group in the Republic to do so. The new Arts Theatre was opened on April 26, 1969.

The George Arts Theatre

For many years the society staged its productions in the local George Town Hall.

In 1962 the group obtained its first premises in a converted building in Davidson Road. The first play staged in December of that year was The Reluctant Debutante, followed by Dial M for Murder, South Sea Bubble, The Moon is Blue, Arsenic and Old Lace (all 1963) and Blithe Spirit (1964).

In 1969 they moved to new premises. Situated in York Street, the building itself was built in 1905 as a girls' hostel before it was turned into a cinema. The organisation purchased the building for an amount of R12 000 and spent another R14 000 on renovations, to convert it into a theatre. Further alterations have been made from time to time. It was later renamed the Oakhurst George Arts Theatre after its sponsor.

The venue has from the beginning been run by the George Society of Arts.

The first production in the venue in 1969 was a performance of The Sleeping Prince by Terence Rattigan. In 2019, as a celebration of their first 50 years, they performed the same play once more, now directed by Ilze Tulleken, with Alicia van Zyl as Mary Morgan and Aidan Hyland as Charles, Prince Regent of Carpathia.

Other productions during its early years have included: Miranda, Cure for Love, My Three Angels, Book of the Month, Down Came a Blackbird, Castles in the Air, Tell-Tale Murder and Sailor Beware.

Sources

http://www.georgeartstheatre.co.za/

"Theatre Celebrates 50th Birthday", The George Herald:Tuesday, 19 February 2019[1]

"George Society of Arts reawakens The Sleeping Prince after 50 years", The Gremlin/George News (March 26, 2019)[2]

Programmes 1962 to 1964

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