Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society - Revision history

Ivor: /* The Commercial Hall */

2025-04-07T20:46:34Z

The Commercial Hall

Ivor: /* Port Elizabeth Boating Company */

2025-04-07T20:41:33Z

Port Elizabeth Boating Company

Ivor at 20:14, 7 April 2025

2025-04-07T20:14:53Z

Ivor: /* Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society: First phase */

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Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society: First phase

Satj: /* Their performances */

2021-03-10T03:48:37Z

Their performances

Satj: /* Sources */

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Sources

Satj: /* Their performances */

2021-03-09T04:48:06Z

Their performances

Satj at 04:40, 9 March 2021

2021-03-09T04:40:25Z

Satj at 04:39, 9 March 2021

2021-03-09T04:39:54Z

Satj at 04:38, 9 March 2021

2021-03-09T04:38:36Z

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 == The Commercial Hall ==
-After the construction of the [[Commercial Hall]] in 1843, the [[Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society]] staged some performances there.
+The foundation stone for the [[Commercial Hall]] was laid in July 1843, on land granted by Sir George Napier. The first public theatrical performances in the Hall were presented by the [[P E Dramatic Society]]. The building served all public purposes until 1856 when it burnt down.
 == Charles Inman's theatre ==

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 ==Port Elizabeth Boating Company==
-November 28, 1861: A theatre opened in Commerce Street, in the store of the [[Port Elizabeth Boating Company]]. The Boating Company was formed with [[Daniel Phillips]] as Managing Director in 1841. The first professional acting company to visit Port Elizabeth was under [[Sefton Parry]]. Immediately upon their arrival the company began preparations and soon their season, consisting of 12 different performances, was under way.
+November 28, 1861: A theatre opened in Commerce Street, in the store of the [[Port Elizabeth Boating Company]]. The Boating Company was formed with [[Daniel Phillips]] as Managing Director in 1841. The first professional acting company to visit Port Elizabeth was under [[Sefton Parry]]. Immediately upon their arrival on the steamer "Sir George Grey," the company began making preparations and soon their season, consisting of "12 nights only," was under way. The first show was [[Henry Thornton Craven]]'s [[The Post Boy]], a two-act drama which was followed by [[The Bonnie Fish Wife]] “the celebrated farce” by Charles Selby. These productions created great interest in theatre. A family ticket for four people cost £10/10/0. The populace recognised the need for a proper theatre and funds were collected for the “New Theatre”. The [[Sefton Parry Company]] had a very successful three months in the young town.
 =='''SEE ALSO:'''==

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:14, 7 April 2025
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	The [[Port Elizabeth Amateur Theatrical Society]] was not simply a name change but another organisation which existed at the same time as the [[Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society]].		The [[Port Elizabeth Amateur Theatrical Society]] was not simply a name change but another organisation which existed at the same time as the [[Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society]].

		+	==Port Elizabeth Boating Company==

		+	November 28, 1861: A theatre opened in Commerce Street, in the store of the [[Port Elizabeth Boating Company]]. The Boating Company was formed with [[Daniel Phillips]] as Managing Director in 1841. The first professional acting company to visit Port Elizabeth was under [[Sefton Parry]]. Immediately upon their arrival the company began preparations and soon their season, consisting of 12 different performances, was under way.

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 ===Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society: First phase===
-The [[Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society]]  is the first documented [[Amateur|amateur]] dramatic society in Port Elizabeth and was founded on April 10, 1840. According to [[Jill Fletcher]] (1994, pp.79-81) this was the [[Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society]] that most probably performing in various found venues, including [[The Lyceum]], a wood and iron store they had fitted up as performance venue with "a primitive stage and quaint scenery". [[F.C.L. Bosman]] (1928, pp. 508-9) adds that on the 26 August 1853 a "new Theatre" that had been built by subscription opened in Port Elizabeth, opening with a production of ''[[She Stoops to Conquer]]'' (Goldsmith) and ''[[Did You Ever Send Your Wife to Camberwell?]]'' (Coyne), and would host a production of ''[[Henry IV]]'' in October of the same year, the cast including a certain [[Mr Pearson]].  In May 1856, the [[Lyceum]] building was again re-opened after being refurbished with improvements including a dress circle with velvet cushions. The Society continued productions up to 1858 when the building was sold and the Society dissolved.
+The [[Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society]]  is the first documented [[Amateur|amateur]] dramatic society in Port Elizabeth and was founded on April 10, 1840. According to [[Jill Fletcher]] (1994, pp.79-81) this was the [[Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society]] that most probably performing in various found venues, including [[The Lyceum]], a wood and iron warehouse in Staines Street which was fitted up as performance venue with "a primitive stage and quaint scenery". The company later changed its name to the Amateur Company. Scenes from Shakespeare and popular classics, including a few locally written works, were staged. [[F.C.L. Bosman]] (1928, pp. 508-9) adds that on the 26 August 1853 a "new Theatre" that had been built by subscription opened in Port Elizabeth, opening with a production of ''[[She Stoops to Conquer]]'' (Goldsmith) and ''[[Did You Ever Send Your Wife to Camberwell?]]'' (Coyne), and would host a production of ''[[Henry IV]]'' in October of the same year, the cast including a certain [[Mr Pearson]].  In May 1856, the [[Lyceum]] building was again re-opened after being refurbished with improvements including a dress circle with velvet cushions. The Society continued productions up to 1858 when the building was sold and the Society dissolved.
 ===Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society: Second phase===

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 In 1855 they performed  ''[[The Rivals]]'' (Sheridan) in the new [[Port Elizabeth Theatre]] in August, with ''[[The Fast Train]]'' (Anon.), assisted by the [[Port Elizabeth Amateur Musical Society]].
--1866: Among the works listed as having been done by the club (and its collaborators) at some point in this period, a number for charity and fund-raising purposes (e.g. for a new cricket pavilion), were ''[[Still Waters Run Deep]]'' (), ''[[That Affair at Finchley]]'' (Coyne), ''[[Our Volunteers]]'' (a new ballet) and  the ''[[Lady of Lycus]]'' (probably ''[[The Lady of Lyons]]'' by Bulwer-Lytton or Byron) possibly even the opera ''[[The Rose of Castile]]'' (Balfe, Harris and Falconer).
+-1866: Among the works listed as having been done by the club (and its collaborators) at some point in this period, a number for charity and fund-raising purposes (e.g. for a new cricket pavilion), were ''[[Still Waters Run Deep]]'' (Taylor), ''[[That Affair at Finchley]]'' (Coyne), ''[[Our Volunteers]]'' (a new local ballet by [[Mrs Cooper]]) and  the ''[[The Lady of Lyons]]'' (by Bulwer-Lytton or Byron) and possibly even the opera ''[[The Rose of Castile]]'' (Balfe, Harris and Falconer).
 : They performed a locally written historical play called ''[[The Treasure at the Woody Cape, or The Days of Ryk van Tulbach]]'' "at considerable expense in dresses and general mounting")  on 23 September. It had been written by the local postmaster and playwright, [[Alexander Wilmot]],  presumably a member of the club or society.

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 [[F.C.L. Bosman]]. 1928. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika'', Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: [[J.H. de Bussy]]. [http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/bosm012dram01_01/]: pp. 421, 508
 "Port Elizabeth Theatre",  in the ''[[Cape Monitor]]'', 10 September, 1853, 8 August, 1855 and 24 September 1856.
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 [[Margaret Harradine]]. 1995. ''Port Elizabeth: A Social Chronicle to the End of 1945''. Port Elizabeth: E.H. Walton Packaging (Pty) Ltd.
 [[P.W. Laidler]]. 1926. ''The Annals of the Cape Stage''. Edinburgh: William Bryce: p.

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:48, 9 March 2021
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	1867: They performed a locally written historical play called ''[[The Treasure at the Woody Cape, or The Days of Ryk van Tulbach]]'' "at considerable expense in dresses and general mounting") on 23 September. It had been written by the local postmaster and playwright, [[Alexander Wilmot]], presumably a member of the club or society.		1867: They performed a locally written historical play called ''[[The Treasure at the Woody Cape, or The Days of Ryk van Tulbach]]'' "at considerable expense in dresses and general mounting") on 23 September. It had been written by the local postmaster and playwright, [[Alexander Wilmot]], presumably a member of the club or society.

		+	1869: A performance of an unnamed work was done in April by the [[Dramatic Club]] on in association with [[The Bennees]], attended by Governor Wodehouse.

	[TH]		[TH]

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:40, 9 March 2021
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−	See also ~~the entry for the~~ [[Port Elizabeth Dramatic Club]] under '''[[Dramatic Club]]'''	+	''See also [[Port Elizabeth Dramatic Club]] under the general entry '''[[Dramatic Club]]'''''

	== Author's Comment: ==		== Author's Comment: ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:39, 9 March 2021
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		+
		+	See also the entry for the [[Port Elizabeth Dramatic Club]] under '''[[Dramatic Club]]'''

	== Author's Comment: ==		== Author's Comment: ==

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 Unfortunately, there are a number of publications which do not have the correct facts either because the author did not have access to the newspapers or clippings, relied on other unverified sources or simply made unfounded assumptions.
-Whatever the reason, ESAT is attempting to correct these mistakes by inputting information from original sources such as newspapers, pamphlets and programmes.
+Whatever the reason, [[ESAT]] is attempting to correct these mistakes by inputting information from original sources such as newspapers, pamphlets and programmes.
 Should you have any information which will add to our collective knowledge of early theatre, please contact us at: [[http://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php?title=Main_Page#An_invitation_to_contribute_to_ESAT]].
-== Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society ==
+== Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society==
-There appears to have been two societies by this name in Port Elizabeth in the 19th century:
+There appears to have been two amateur societies by this name in Port Elizabeth in the 19th century, as well as a company referred to as  the [[Port Elizabeth Dramatic Company]] on occasion. It is highly likely that the latter is simply a reference to the second society, rather than to a genuinely professional company active in the mid-nineteenth century.
 ===Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society: First phase===
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 In 1855 they performed  ''[[The Rivals]]'' (Sheridan) in the new [[Port Elizabeth Theatre]] in August, with ''[[The Fast Train]]'' (Anon.), assisted by the [[Port Elizabeth Amateur Musical Society]].
 [TH]