King William's Town Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society

The King William's Town Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society (KAMADS) was founded in 1897 and specialised in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. It most probably used the King William’s Town Theatre or King William’s Town Town Hall, opened in 1896, for its productions.

Although it was an extremely active society in terms of productions, only nine members attended the 1898 annual general meeting.

The society also performed on occasion in Port Elizabeth.

Contribution to South African Theatre

July 1947: The three-act play Pink String and Sealing Wax was produced by Dorothy Southwell as a fundraiser in aid of the King William's Town museum. Starring Freda Coleman, Kathleen Smailes, Winnie Richardson, Fannie Adler, Gwen Davis, Mark Weintraub, Neville Becker, David Cooper and Ronnie Watermeyer.

Sources

Saturday Post, August 2, 1947.

Du Toit, 1988 [JH]

"King William's Town During the South African War, 1899 - 1902, An Urban Social, Economic and Cultural Story" Thesis by Denver Arnold Webb, January 1993.

Kaffrarian Museum, W3303B, Minute Book of KAMADS, 23/8/1897 - 111711899, Annual Report, 2318/1898

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