ITS members say it is the longest still-running community theatre in Australia.
But age has not wearied the group or a member of 49 years, Christine Searle, who is treading the boards in a new role.
Having been with The Guild Theatre since its inception in 1966, she will play Mrs Graves, with her "1920s English, large vowels" accent, in the theatre group's first production for the year, Enchanted April.
The romantic comedy tells the tale of two London women taking off for a break in an Italian villa, which they have to share with two other women.
Searle is the first to admit her role has its challenges. "It's hard work, learning lines, I've done a lot more directing lately than acting," she said.
"And Mrs Graves is a formidable character, which is hard when you're only five feet, three inches (about 160 centimetres). She is terribly proper but in the end she softens, she mellows."
Gary Clark, Melissa Gosling-Smith, David Hines, Ursula Hogan, Allanah Jarman, Vincent O'Neill and Yolanda Regueira also appear under Bill Ayers' direction in the play, which runs until March 14.
The Guild Theatre, Waltz Street, Rockdale. Bookings (Monday-Saturday, 9am-5pm), 9521 6358.
