ENTERTAINMENT NEWS - The organisers of the George Arts Theatre's 50th birthday celebrations were pleasantly surprised when one of the former theatre committee members contacted them after reading an article in the paper.
Suzanne O'Reilly, who used to be a journalist for the George and KnysnaPlett Herald, recently contacted the theatre saying that she was thrilled to read about the planned celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the theatre, says Liane van Zyl.
"At the time of the opening of the theatre, she was a member of the Arts Theatre committee. Her portfolio was publicity and so she was in charge of the arrangements for the gala opening.
This was a challenge. The George Society of Arts had almost no money to spend on publicity as the change-over from school to theatre had been greedy for funds. Also, there was no internet and most of the time the phones didn't work, even though George had switched to automatic dialling the previous year, 1967."
O'Reilly fondly remembers how they bought a school building and changed it into a theatre. "Goodwill and donations flowed like water, imagination knew no bounds and talents and resources were always limited - although the enthusiasm was not."
Van Zyl says except for the aesthetics, not much has changed in their beloved theatre. The George Society of Arts committee still volunteer most of their time and energy to not only keep the doors open, but also keep the arts alive in George.
Jump to 2019: Alicia van Zyl as Mary and Aidan Hyland as Regent Prince Charles in The Sleeping Prince, which will be staged this year in celebration of the theatre's 50th anniversary.
The theatre's 50th birthday will be celebrated with a gala evening on 6 April at 18:30. Should you need more info or want to become a sponsor, please contact the theatre on 044 874 3142 or send an e-mail to info@georgeartstheatre.co.za.
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