1989 School Magazine

Rhoda Felgate firmly believes that theatre is 'a combination of actor and audience': where you have space for actors to perform and space for an audience to watch and listen, you have theatre. On March 15, 1986, a rather special birthday pafty tooi< place at the old, but stlll gracious Princess Theatre, Woolloongabba. Twelfth Night celebrated its 50th year and at the same time paid tribute to its founder, Rhoda Felgate. It all happened in a tiny annexe attached to Tom and Babette Stephen's flat on Cregory Terrace when several dedicated people including Daphne Roemermann (Francis), another B.C.C.S. past pupil, gathered to discuss the possible formation of a new theatre - one that would extend the activities of the already established Repertory Company. Twelfth Night took its name, not out of respect for Shal

Sylvia Dixon & lrene Hope Shields

ln 1950, the club obtained rooms in Albert Street and later in Adelaide Street. Members now had a venue where functions like O.C.A. dinners could be held, but where, also, they could drop in during the day for lunch or to relax with friends. This club was Miss Nevill's special project in life, and she devoted much time and energy to its development. lt reflectecl both her concern for young women, and her pre- paredness to put her ideas Into practice. The Board of Directors of the club at the time of its closure thought it fitting that the club's spofts shields should be presented to Miss Nevill's old school, which she always held in great affection, B.C.C.S. These lines that begin and end the second of T.S. Eliot's wonder-ful 'Four Quartets' are very special to Rhoda Felgate, Brisbane's great lady of theatre. For her they forecast the destiny of her theatre, Twelfth Night, and perhaps her own. This year, Brisbane Cirls'Crammar Library is richer by some seventy books on People and the Craft of the Theatre. The Rhoda Felgate Bequest consists of much loved books, Miss Felgate's 'friends' as she often called them. Born in London, Rhoda Felgate was a student at B.C.C.S. during the First World War years, 191 5-18. After leaving school she worked as a typist at Nestles Factory before bowing to the love of theatre. Rhoda Felgate returned to B.C.C.S. to teach Elocution in 1923, and remained until 1948. During that time she produced many plays and cre- ated a love of the theatre for many girls. FELGATE BEQUEST 'ln my beginning is my end'. 'ln my end is my beginning'.

'Time present and time past Are both perhaps present in time future And time future contalned in time past.'

Rhoda Felgate