W. Dansie

W. Dansie was a soldier serving with the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot when the Regiment was posted to the Eastern Frontier of the Cape Colony between 1860 and 1863, shortly after the Xhosa cattle-killing movement and famine (1857-1858). He came to the Cape Colony as a Private soldier. At first, the Regiment was posted to Grahamstown but was later transferred to Keiskama Hoek (Keiskammahoek) in 1862.

Private Dansie was one of the most productive members of the actors, acting in 26 productions during his three-year stay on the Eastern Frontier.

W. Dansie was a member of the Dramatic Club which was called the Band of Amateurs

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 14, Keiskama Hoek, December 10, 1862, page 270.)

Contribution to SA theatre

July 9 & 16, 1860: Acted in the Band of Amateurs production of The Corsican Brothers. (The Twin brothers).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 2, Grahamstown, September 15, 1860, page 15.)

July 21, 26 & 27, and August 3, 1860: The Band of Amateurs produced The Wandering Minstrel (Herbert Carol).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 2, Grahamstown, September 15, 1860, page 16.)

July 30 and August 1, 1860: Starred in the Corps Dramatique (Band of Amateurs) two-act "comediatta" (sic) (probably commedia dell’arte, which, according to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, is an improvised kind of popular comedy in Italian theatres in the 16th – 18th centuries and is based on stock characters.) production of The Review, or The Wags of Windsor. (Looney Mactwolter).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 2, Grahamstown, September 15, 1860, page 17.)

July 30 and August 1, 1860: Acted as in the Band of Amateurs produced farce, The Irish Tutor. (Terry O’Rourke) & (Dr O'Toole).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 2, Grahamstown, September 15, 1860, page 17.)

August 20th and 22nd, 1860: Starred in the three-act play produced by the Band of Amateurs, The Iron Chest. (Sir Edward Mortimer).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 2, Grahamstown, September 15, 1860, page 17.)

September 20 1860: Acted in the Band of Amateurs produced two-act drama, Time Tries All. (Hon. Augustus Collander Yawn).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 3, Grahamstown, November 1, 1860, page 30.)

September 20 1860: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band produced one-act farce, The Dead Shot. (Mr Hector Timid).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 3, Grahamstown, November 1, 1860, page 30.)

November 26, 1860: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of The British Volunteers. (Mr Percival Floff).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 4, Christmas, 1860. Page 47.)

Christmas 1860: Acted in "a grand Balletical (sic) Introduction" entitled The Rivals. (Lord Westawiney, a very handsome man with a Roman nose, and very extensive whiskers).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 4, Christmas Supplement, 1860. Page 51.)

May 27, 1861: Acted in The Sergeant’s Dramatic Club two-act drama production of Talfourd’s of Macbeth Travestie (Family Physician) & (Witch).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 7, June 13, 1861. Page 92.)

June 13 & 17, 1861: Acted in The Sergeant’s Dramatic Club three-act romantic drama, adopted from Walter Scott’s poem, The Lady of the Lake. (Red Murdoch, a treacherous guide).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 8, September 30, 1861. Page 108.)

October 14 & November 4, 1861: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of John Maddison Morton’s one-act farce, Slasher and Crasher. (Mr Sampson Slasher).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 9, November 13, 1861. Page 125.)

October 14 & November 4, 1861: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of William Barnes Rhodes's one-act burlesque tragic opera, Bombastes Furioso. (Artaxominous, King of Utopia).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 9, November 13, 1861. Page 125.)

November 4, 1861: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of Thomas J. Lynch's two-act drama, The Rose of Ettrick Vale or The Bridal of the Borders. (Red Ronald, the River, alias the Stranger).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 9, November 13, 1861. Page 125.)

November 4, 1861: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band’s production of The Spectre Bridegroom, or A Ghost in Spite of Himself. ((Mr Nicodemus).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 9, November 13, 1861. Page 125.)

February 17, 1862: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of J. M. Morton’s one-act farce, Poor Pillicoddy. (Mr Pillicoddy).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 12, February 28, 1862, page 179.)

February 17, 1862: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of The Omnibus, Or A Convenient Distance. (Pat Rooney).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 12, February 28, 1862, page 179/180.)

May 28, 1862: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of a one-act farce, The Omnibus, or A Convenient Distance, (Pat Rooney).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, Supplementary Number, Keiskama Hoek, August 12, 1862, page 240.)

May 28, 1862: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of The Irish Tutor. (Terry O'Rourke as Dr. O'Toole).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, Supplementary Number, Keiskama Hoek, August 12, 1862, page 240.)

June 5, 1862: Acted again in the Amateurs of the Band production of The Spectre Bridegroom or A Ghost in Spite of Himself. (Paul).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, Supplementary Number, Keiskama Hoek, August 12, 1862, page 240.)

June 5, 1862: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of the one-act farce, Slasher and Crasher. (Mr Sampson Slasher).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, Supplementary Number, Keiskama Hoek, August 12, 1862, page 240.)

June 19, 1862: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of a two-act "melo-drama", Robert Macaire, or The Two Murderers of Lyon. (Robert Macaire, under the assumed name of Bertrand).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, Supplementary Number, Keiskama Hoek, August 12, 1862, page 241.)

June 19, 1862: Acted in George Wood's one-act farce, The Irish Doctor, or The Dumb Lady Cured from Moliere's Le Médecin malgré lui. (Denis Murphy, a broom-maker).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, Supplementary Number, Keiskama Hoek, August 12, 1862, page 241.)

July 21, 1862: Acted in the Band Amateurs production of H. R. Addison's sketch from life, Locked in with a Lady. (A Voice).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, Supplementary Number, Keiskama Hoek, August 12, 1862, page 241.)

July 21, 1862: Acted in the Band Amateurs produced a one-act farce by J. M. Morton, The Irish Tiger. (Paddy Ryan, The Irish Tiger).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, Supplementary Number, Keiskama Hoek, August 12, 1862, page 241.)

September 24, 1862: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band performance of George Dibdin Pitt's two-act “melo-drama”, The Eddystone Elf. (The Elf of the Eddystone).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 14, Keiskama Hoek, December 10, 1862, page 270.)