E.C. Yorke
E.C. Yorke (fl 1860s-1870s)[] was an amateur performer.
Also referred to as "The Honorouble Mr Yorke" and Eliot Yorke on some occasions.
Contents
Biography
The Hon. E.C. Yorke is listed in The Illustrated Queen Almanac and Lady's Calendar for 1879, as an "Extra Equerry" in the household of the Duke of Edinburgh, during his second visit to the Cape Colony, in order to lay the foundation stone for the new docks in Cape Town harbour.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
An amateur performer named E.C. Yorke is mentioned as a member of the entourage of the Duke of Edinburgh during his second visit to the Cape Colony in 1867. He is described by F.C.L. Bosman (1980, p229, paraphrasing the critic of the Cape Argus of 14 September 1867) as "a practiced and exceptionally competent amateur", and the critic of the Cape Argusseems to have considered him "the best interpreter in the Cape at this time" - that is, after G.V. Brooke).
He is first mentioned as a guest actor on 3 September 1867, when he assisted Mrs Duret in doing scenes from Hamlet (she playing "Gertrude", Yorke appearing as "Hamlet", Thomas Brazier as the "Ghost" and J. Spencer as "Polonius"). He is next named as a member of the cast for a special performance put on in recognition of the Duke's visit by Mrs Duret and her company in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, on 17 September, 1867. On this occasion he seems to have appeared in the performance of The Isle of St Tropez (Williams and Burnand) with two other members of the Duke's companions, i.e. Messrs Charles (Lord Newry) and FitzGeorge.
Yorke once more appears in Cape Town in 1870, when he is again mentioned as a member of the entourage of the Duke of Edinburgh during his third visit to the Colony. On this occasion he appeared in a series of excerpts from Shakespeare in the Royal Lyceum Theatre on 30 June, under the management of Webster. He also participated in a benefit performance for the poor under the patronage of the Duke on 9 July, appearing in Henry VIII (as "Cardinal Wolseley") and the lead in scenes from Hamlet. (The rest of the cast consisted of the locally active professional actors such as Ben Webster, Thomas Brazier, Mr Devere and James Leffler.) On 11 July he participated in a "Literary and Musical Entertainment" with readings from Poe's The Bells and the works of Hood.
Sources
The Illustrated Queen Almanac and Lady's Calendar (Published at the Queen Office) Almanacs 1877-1897[1]
D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1923. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)
F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 227, 229, 252-3, 280, 291, 294
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