View source for Bloemfontein theatre in the 19thC

== 19th Century English drama and theatre in Bloemfontein ==


English literary and dramatic entertainments have a long history in Bloemfontein.


=== [[Bloemfontein Amateur Dramatic Club]] ===

(Also known as the '''[[Bloemfontein Liefhebberij Dramatisch Gezelschap]]'''). A bilingual, [[Dutch]] and English society founded in 1868. 

=== [[Winter Evenings Entertainments]] ===

This was an initiative in Bloemfontein led by Reverend [[John Brebner]] to organise a weekly revue of song, music, recitation and theatre between the months of April and December yearly. Offshoots of this initiative included the '''[[Bloemfonteinse Toneelleesgroep]]''' and the Dramatic Branch of the '''[[Bloemfontein Literary and Scientific Society]]''' (founded in 1877), which included a dramatic entertainments  branch. This branch later changed its name to the [[Bloemfontein Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society]]. Defunct by 1890. 


The first of the [[Winter Evenings Entertainments]] was held in April 1875.

=== [[Bloemfontein Literary and Scientific Society]]===

This society, founded in 1877 as an offshoot of the '''[[Winter Evenings Entertainments]]''', also had a '''[[Dramatic Entertainments]]''' branch. (Called a '''Toneelleesklub''' ["playreading club"] or '''Toneelleesgroep''' ["playreading group"]in [[Afrikaans]]). It was also a fore-runner of the later [[Bloemfontein Shakespeare Circle]].  The society itself was defunct by 1890. 

=== [[Bloemfontein Dramatic and Operatic Society]] ===


The name assumed by the '''Dramatic Entertainments''' section of the '''Bloemfontein Literary and Scientific Society''' in 1882. Along with the BLSS it was defunct by 1890. 

(See Du Toit,  1988) [JH]

== 19th Century [[Dutch]] and [[Afrikaans]] drama and theatre in Bloemfontein ==


=== [[Bloemfontein Liefhebberij Dramatisch Gezelschap]] ===

(Also known as the '''[[Bloemfontein Amateur Dramatic Club]]'''). A bilingual, [[Dutch]] and English society founded in 1868. 


=== [[Bloemfonteinse Toneelleesklub]] or [[Bloemfonteinse Toneelleesgroep]]===

("playreading club" or "playreading group"). 


Sources

== Sources ==

[[P.J. du Toit]], 1988


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