November 4th, 2020The Mount Players: Marg and Allan Cameron

Their ongoing commitment over this time has helped establish the strong basis for what we enjoy today. They met through the theatre in 1979 and were married in 1981. Residing in Gisborne they are still actively involved with the theatre.
Allan became involved in the mid 1970s and was recruited to the committee in late 1978 with a core group of about 10 managing the original theatre. It was tiny with cramped backstage facilities and half the current stage area we have now.
Allan performed on stage in a couple of musicals from 1979 and went on to be involved in everything from stage managing, set building, lighting and front of house for more than 30 shows over the coming years.
He was secretary for a while and elected president in 1983 following the Ash Wednesday fires that destroyed the original theatre. In 1984 he resigned the presidency to concentrate on the process of incorporation which was achieved in 1985. He was then elected the original public officer of the group.

Allan was caught by surprise in 2004 when he was awarded life membership. “It means a great deal as a thoughtful memento from the group for those years we had all put in,” Allan said. “That simple plaque contains a million memories. The gallery in the theatre – a million more.”
After reading an ad in the local paper in March 1978 inviting people to join the group, Marg found herself stage managing her first show in April the same year.
She had been a member of theatre groups in all the towns in which she had worked as a teacher so embraced the opportunity to meet people from a wide background, and the chance to work in a team for a common positive purpose enjoying the fun and friendship.
Marg has worked on about 70 shows with the company in a variety of roles – directing, backstage, lighting, set building, pianist, front of house and was even on stage for two productions.
Serving on the committee from 1983 until 1987 she had a range of major tasks including, importantly, supporting members who had been affected by the fires, designing the new theatre, raising money, starting rebuilding, creating and being part of endless working bees and taking shows on the road. Marg was also an adviser to the committee during the 1980s and early 1990s on lighting needs and design.
In 1997 Marg was also very surprised and proud to receive life membership of The Mount Players in recognition for her contribution to the company.

Words: Marg and Allan Cameron, and Karen Hunt
Image: Contributed