 The Athlone ladies had the grounds overhauled, and facilitated the pro bono services of the Municipal Orchestra, Principal Dulcie Howes of the UCT Ballet School and Dean Erik Chisholm of the College of Music as conductor.The open-air theatre officially began operation from the evening of 1 December 1950, with the successful performances of "Les Sylphides", "St Valentine's Night" and "Les Diversions".The money raised from this and later performances went to fund a pre-primary school in Athlone as well as the establishment of the Athlone Teachers’ Training College – the country's first college for coloured teachers of pre-school children.