The Company History

The Company of Theatre Arts was born out of a long tradition of amateur theatre in Westville, when “The Company” was formed for a production of a musical revue, “London Calling” at the St John’s Theatre in Old Fort Road, in January 1985. The London Pub Evening themed entertainment, with “traditional” grub thrown in, became a staple and oft-repeated format over the next 8 years, with productions of London Calls Again (November ’85 and Nov ‘89), London Calling Forth (1990), Carry on Calling London (1992), Not Another London Calling (July 1993), and London is London (December 1993).

This tried, tested – and popular – formula helped to finance more adventurous productions, with no fewer than 6 major shows in the first year of existence alone. These included a comedy (A Bedful of Foreigners), melodrama (Murder in the Red Barn), a musical (The Jungle Book), musical review (Showtime), two London Pub evenings, and early the following year a musical comedy (Pippin, April 1986). It was a prodigious output of theatre.

The smell of the greasepaint …

All of these productions were mounted at the St John’s Theatre, with its limited and antiquated facilities, and less than salubrious surroundings. Guys & Dolls in 1987 marked The Company’s debut at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre with its “sophisticated equipment, affordable rental and helpful and professional staff” (programme note). With a cast of 42, founding member of The Company, Jeanne Beauchamp, directed the show with musical direction from Dawn Selby and choreography by Hugo le Roux. Themi Venturas designed the lighting, and some of the lead roles were played by Gary McKenzie, Grant Bell, John Didlick, Melanie Roberts, Liz Hibbert-Cunningham and Mike Beauchamp.

In June of 1988, The Company spread its wings further with a production of Godspell at the Playhouse Loft Theatre. With another founding member, Shaun Browne, taking the role of Jesus, the critic (the late) Sjoerd Meijer commended the “frolicsome cast who handle the jollity with élan”. One can think of no better description of Company shows to this day.

By the mid-1990’s, the Westville Civic Centre had become the preferred performance venue for The Company’s major annual productions. Other venues had also been tried out along the way. The Courtyard Theatre on the campus of Technikon Natal was the venue for War of the Worlds (1992), an ambitious production directed and choreographed by Hugo le Roux. A number of productions went to the Sneddon: Guys & Dolls ’87, Oh, Mr Porter ’89. A Twist of Lennon ’90, Jungle Book ’91, and To be Frank ’96. And in recent years The Company has mounted productions with smaller casts at the more intimate Rhumbelow Theatre in Umbilo, invariably to full houses: Rhythm of Life ’03, Musical Mania ’05, Denim to Diamonds ’07, The Good, Bad & Outrageous ‘09

Creative juices

The Company can claim a particular distinction for mounting “home-grown” shows. Of the 37 productions presented over the last 24 years, half of them have been song and dance reviews created by The Company around a broad musical theme. The majority of these shows have been under the direction and choreography of Fiona Barnes-Snyder, who has not only performed in 23 Company shows, but has devised, directed and choreographed – in whole or part – every Company show for the last 19 years. Together with other Company stalwarts Linda Didlick, Liz Cunningham, John Didlick and others, Fiona has been the creative force behind The Company’s continued success in front of local audiences.

What makes them do it, show after show, the long hours of rehearsals, sacrificing evenings and weekends from family and friends, to entertain others?
“All sorts of reasons: the lights, the costumes, the makeup, the chaos backstage, getting changed in the wings, the adrenalin rush before going on stage, the uniqueness of live theatre, the audience, the clapping and cheering, the curtain calls, the shooters in the dressing room, when it goes right, when it goes wrong, hoping it’ll be alright on the night, the people, the fantasy …”

The Company enjoys a remarkably creative record for a group of “amateur thespians”. Add to this that the average production engages 26 cast members on stage (except at The Rhumbelow!), and one can see that mounting these productions is an enormous achievement unrivalled in scale by anything in commercial theatre.

Therein lies the sustainability of a performing group like The Company. They’re self-sufficient, self-funding, and offer a quality of entertainment which the commercial theatres are happy to host. And best of all, it’s just as much fun for those on stage as it is for the audience!

As the critic said:

… a “frolicsome cast who handle the jollity with élan”.

Now that’s how I would describe a Company show.

The Company of Theatre Arts Chronology