Veteran drama teacher retires after a lifetime on stage

A pint-sized woman who has introduced countless children to the magic of drama on the stage of the George Arts Theatre will soon be taking her final bow in George.

- Michelle Pienaar

Penny de Villiers

After 32 years in the city, Penny de Villiers (78) and her husband, Johan (76), will be retiring to Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, at the beginning of December. The couple will settle into a cosy cottage in Newcastle - a place they once called home before moving to George in 1994.

Back then, Penny was deeply involved in local theatre and founded the Musical and Dramatic Society (Mads), where she taught drama, sang, hosted play readings and directed productions.

"We used to perform in the City Hall, where there was this huge clock that chimed every hour," she recalls with a laugh during an interview last week. "We had to time our performances around the dong-dong of that clock!"