Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival

Origins

Founded by Helen Mann and Bruce Mann inspired by a speech made by André Huguenet after his performance of King Lear at the Port Elizabeth Opera House on May 10, 1960.

Between 1960 and 1971, productions of Shakespeare plays were presented by a variety of organisations, such as the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild, PEMADS and PEAAT. From 1966 to 1971, the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild entered into an association with the Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society, producing three Shakespeare productions: Romeo and Juliet (1969), Twelfth Night (1970) and The Merchant of Venice (1971). From 1972, the Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival operated as an independent organisation, and the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild ceased to exist, essentially absorbed by the Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society and the Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival.

Initially, productions were staged at indoor venues in Port Elizabeth such as the Port Elizabeth Opera House, but in 1971, The Merchant of Venice was presented in the open-air at the Happy Valley Amphitheatre. The venue was unsuitable, and from 1972, Festival productions were staged at the open air venue in St George's Park, later named Mannville.

In 1974, Themi Venturas, who was elected president, and Lorraine Young (Kapp) was elected vice-president, launched an "under-the-age-of-twenty" group of players for the Festival which was called the Young 'uns.

For more information, see Young 'uns.

Productions of Shakespeare plays (1960-1971)

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.

1960: A Winter's Tale, presented by PEMADS, directed by Mary Howe, with Mari Mocke, Noel Annear, G. Neil-Boss, Rob Fletcher, Ronald Davis, Jim Shorrock.

1963: Hamlet, presented by the Theatre Guild for the Red Cross at the Port Elizabeth City Hall, 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: Die Koopman van Venesie, presented by PEAAT, directed by Mari Mocke, with Jac Smit, Carina Zeelie, Annatjie van Wyk, Rufus Geel, J.J. Engelbrecht.

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: Macbeth, presented by PEMADS, directed by Will Jamieson, with Gabrielle van der Riet, David Blood, G. Neil-Boss, Sally Carrol, Lorna Levenson, Jim Shorrock.

1968: Shakespeare Recital, presented by CAPAB, with Leslie French.

1968: Richard III, presented by Theatre Workshop, directed by Helen McNamara, with Noel Morgan, Colin Ward, Iris Hawken, Philip Jackson, Harry Magnus, Jim Shorrock.

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: 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, presented by the Port Elizabeth Theatre Guild and the Port Elizabeth Gilbert and Sullivan Society, at Happy Valley Amphitheatre, directed by Leslie French. Starring: Jeremy Baylis, Helen Mann, Roy Williams, Alf Porter, Leslie French.