For more than 60 years, the Edenvale Acting & Drama Society, better known as EADS, has been bringing people together through theatre, friendship and a shared love of performing.

Founded in 1965 by Pam and Roger Hazel after they moved to South Africa from the United Kingdom, EADS was established after they discovered there was no local amateur dramatic group in Edenvale.

The early years were modest, with performances held at the Edenvale Public Library and rehearsals taking place in members’ homes.

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Sets were built in gardens and garages, and productions were often taken on the road to schools and community organisations for fundraising evenings.

Over the years, EADS grew and became an established part of the local community, eventually finding a permanent home at St Chad’s Anglican Church in Edenvale in 1995.

But EADS has always been about much more than simply putting on a show.

At its heart, the society is about bringing people together.

It offers a place where people of different ages and backgrounds can meet, make new friends, learn new skills and become part of a creative community.

Not everyone involved has to be an actor, either.

A production needs people backstage, costume makers, set builders, lighting and sound crews, directors, choreographers and many willing hands behind the scenes.

For some members, EADS has been a lifelong passion; for others, it has been a place to try something completely new and find a new circle of friends.

That sense of community is once again at the centre of preparations for EADS’s November pantomime.

This year, the society is taking the much-loved Cinderella story and turning it on its head by telling the tale from Prince Charming’s point of view.

His mother has a plan for his future, and it is a very lucrative one.

She wants her son married off to secure the family fortune, and she is not about to let something as inconvenient as true love get in the way.

While the Prince is being paraded around in search of the perfect bride, however, he may discover that the person who has captured his heart has been much closer to home all along.

Add a mysterious destiny, an unexpected twist and, of course, a larger-than-life pantomime dame, and audiences can expect an evening packed with comedy, colourful characters, audience participation and plenty of panto chaos.

Dates for shows at St Chad’s are as follows:
November 6 at 19:30
November 13 at 19:30
November 14 at 19:30
November 20 at 19:30
November 21 at 15:30
Tickets can be bought through Quicket.

Behind the scenes, the production has already brought people together as the cast and crew work through rehearsals, costumes, scenery, props, lighting, sound and all the many details that turn a script into a live show.

That is what EADS has always been about: creating theatre, creating memories and creating friendships.

More than 60 years after it began, the society continues to offer Edenvale residents a chance to get involved, meet new people and share in the magic of live theatre.
Visit https://www.quicket.co.za/events/393210-charming-the-prince-of-panto/ to purchase a ticket.