 She chaired the Athlone Committee for Nursery Education, which was a group of women who conducted charity projects in underprivileged areas.The open-air theatre was first established by a small group of members from this committee, including Jean Bernadt, Dulcie Cooper, Ann Harris, Margaret McKenzie, Margaret Molteno and Lorna Thompson.A successful approach to the then Mayor of Cape Town, Mr Abe Bloomberg, resulted in permission to use the premises.