Making an IMPACT Concerts

Workshops & Concerts Celebrate World Theatre Day at The Savoy

The PEG&S Society is celebrating World Theatre Day with Open Days at the Savoy Theatre so that everyone can experience the magic of theatre and live performance. The weekend of 25-26th March will mark the third time that G&S has celebrated this international event and visitors can enjoy workshops, discussions and demonstrations as well as the annual Making an Impact Concerts.

The PEG&S Society is constantly moving beyond the traditional “amateur theatre” model to become a true community based theatre company. The Leadership Team are working towards a vision of the Savoy Theatre as a hub for all local theatre practitioners to meet, network, perform, learn and develop new works. G&S have introduced many innovative ways to create opportunities for anyone interested to be part of what Society President Rose Cowpar always refers to as “our Savoy family”.

Cowpar initiated this annual celebration and is passionate about opening up opportunities for everyone ”who wants to play. No one gets left behind at the Savoy and World Theatre Day is the perfect time to celebrate what we do alongside the thousands of performers, dancers, technicians and audience members who are part of the Family!” she said.

World Theatre Day, on the 27th March each year, was started by the International Theatre Institute in 1962 and brings together artists, organisations and governments all over the world. The goals of World Theatre Day are about promotion and awareness of theatre and theatre practitioners so that governments and opinion leaders are aware of the value and importance of theatre in all its forms.

On the 25 and 26 March, G&S will host a wide range of workshops covering dance, acting, performance, auditions, improvisation, modelling and more. Cowpar will host a special information session “So you’d like to come and play in Community Theatre” for anyone interested in finding out more and getting involved. A special panel discussion is also in the works.

The Making an Impact Variety Concerts, on Saturday 25th, feature the diverse and multi-talented G&S and Savoy Family in an entertainment extravaganza. The Savoy is home to many of the local dance studio productions and the concerts will feature a dozen of these studios with dance items ranging from ballet, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop to ballroom. The kids from our Holiday Theatre Project show, Music! Movies! Magic! will perform as well as some very special guest parent and child numbers. The 2022 National Junior Latin champion dancers Vernon and Dominique van der Merwe are dancing and there will be items from the new Friendly City Comedy Club. Joining the party will be performers from PEMADS, The Collective, Starstruck Productions and many more.

Making an Impact will take place on Saturday 25th March 2023 at the Savoy Theatre with shows at 15:00 and 19:30. Each performance will have a different program and the public can look at the line up for each show on The Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society Facebook page. Bookings for all performances can be made on Webtickets or at any PicknPay store and tickets are just R120 in row seating.

Funds raised from the Concerts will go towards the G&S Generator Fund to ensure that the doors are open and the lights are on whenever a dose of theatre magic is needed. With an ambitious program planned for the rest of 2023, the Society is forging ahead and building a power team of sponsors and supporters. The Fundraising Team approaching sponsors was initiated by local Dance personality Anthoula Buchner, of Little Cherub, who called on the local dance teachers to donate to the Generator Fund as well as gathering support from the dance community for the Making an Impact Concert. That’s the power of the Savoy family!

All enquiries can be addressed to Rose on 072 906 1977 or by emailing pegandssociety@gmail.com.