South Australia has a long and significant history of amateur theatre.
Companies such as Adelaide Repertory, WEA Little Theatre, Independent Repertory Theatre, Ab Intra Studio Theatre, Playbox, Therry Dramatic Society, Sheridan Theatre, Maggie Theatre Doppio, Vitalstatistix and Bakehouse are represented in the Collection through the event files, individual and company donations.
Women have been a significant presence in the development of amateur theatre with great names such as Agnes Dobson, Patricia Hackett, Jean Marshall, Thelma Afford, Ruby Litchfield and Pamela Munt.
The controversial Patricia Hackett was the first woman in Adelaide to own and direct her own private theatre. The Torch Theatre originally started in 1934 -1935, and then reopened in 1952-1955 in the basement of Hackett’s home on Hackney Road, St Peters. Hackett presented unconventional plays that shocked conservative Adelaide audiences.
