Theatre Royal - Revision history

Darryl: /* Searelle's Theatre Royal or Royal Theatre of Varieties */

2026-06-30T12:38:27Z

Searelle's Theatre Royal or Royal Theatre of Varieties

Darryl: /* Searelle's Theatre Royal or Royal Theatre of Varieties */

2026-01-28T17:09:27Z

Searelle's Theatre Royal or Royal Theatre of Varieties

Darryl: /* Searelle's Theatre Royal or Royal Theatre of Varieties */

2026-01-28T17:08:36Z

Searelle's Theatre Royal or Royal Theatre of Varieties

Darryl: /* Searelle's Theatre Royal or Royal Theatre of Varieties */

2026-01-28T17:07:10Z

Searelle's Theatre Royal or Royal Theatre of Varieties

Darryl: /* Searelle's Theatre Royal or Royal Theatre of Varieties */

2026-01-28T17:04:14Z

Searelle's Theatre Royal or Royal Theatre of Varieties

Darryl: /* Theatre Royal, Johannesburg */

2026-01-28T17:00:06Z

Theatre Royal, Johannesburg

Darryl: /* Sources */

2026-01-28T16:58:55Z

Sources

Darryl: /* Sources */

2026-01-28T16:58:44Z

Sources

Darryl: /* Theatre Royal in Commissioner and Eloff Street (1888): */

2026-01-28T16:58:13Z

Theatre Royal in Commissioner and Eloff Street (1888):

Darryl: /* Theatre Royal in Commissioner and Eloff Street (1888): */

2026-01-28T16:52:32Z

Theatre Royal in Commissioner and Eloff Street (1888):

@@ Line 91: / Line 91: @@
 He constructed his own theatre using the best quality burnt bricks. It had a frontage of 100 feet and was situated on plots 316, 317, 320 and 321, central Commissioner Street, Marshall's Town, Johannesburg. The building consisted of a theatre, shops, bar, tearooms, cafes and Searelle Chambers, as well as a barber, tobacconist and watchmaker's shops. There were also seven two-roomed offices with private toilets. Electric lights and water were supplied. Facing Fox Street were four semi-detached, double-storied houses, each containing five rooms, a kitchen, a pantry etc.
-This theatre was described as a music hall where lots of drinking and smoking took place. It regularly hosted international performers and could accommodate any entertainment except for ballet due to the small stage. By all accounts, it was a rough place due to the excessive drinking where fights frequently broke out. Visitors complained about the ‘low brow’ performances which were dominated by women for the mostly male audience. The music hall was then acquired by Hyman and Alexander and had a grand re-opening on Monday, 23 December 1895, one week before the failed Jameson raid. In 1896 it was listed as the [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]]. Another source suggests the theatre building was eventually put up for auction by Richard Currie's Sales on Tuesday, February 22, 1898, and Searelle left the country.
+This theatre was described as a music hall where lots of drinking and smoking took place. It regularly hosted international performers and could accommodate any entertainment except for ballet due to the small stage. By all accounts, it was a rough place due to the excessive drinking where fights frequently broke out. Visitors complained about the ‘low brow’ performances which were dominated by women for the mostly male audience. The music hall was then acquired by [[Edgar Hyman]] and [[George Alexander]] and had a grand re-opening on Monday, 23 December 1895, one week before the failed Jameson raid. In 1896 it was listed as the [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]]. Another source suggests the theatre building was eventually put up for auction by Richard Currie's Sales on Tuesday, February 22, 1898, and Searelle left the country.
 == Performances ==

@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 ===Searelle's Theatre Royal or [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]]===
-In 1892, Searelle converted his Theatre Royal and re-opened it on 27 December 1892. It appears to have become known as [[Searelle's Theatre Royal]]. In 1896 it was listed as the [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]].
+In 1892, Searelle converted his Theatre Royal and re-opened it on 27 December 1892. It appears to have become known as [[Searelle's Theatre Royal]].
 He constructed his own theatre using the best quality burnt bricks. It had a frontage of 100 feet and was situated on plots 316, 317, 320 and 321, central Commissioner Street, Marshall's Town, Johannesburg. The building consisted of a theatre, shops, bar, tearooms, cafes and Searelle Chambers, as well as a barber, tobacconist and watchmaker's shops. There were also seven two-roomed offices with private toilets. Electric lights and water were supplied. Facing Fox Street were four semi-detached, double-storied houses, each containing five rooms, a kitchen, a pantry etc.
-This theatre was described as a music hall where lots of drinking and smoking took place. It regularly hosted international performers and could accommodate any entertainment except for ballet due to the small stage. By all accounts, it was a rough place due to the excessive drinking where fights frequently broke out. Visitors complained about the ‘low brow’ performances which were dominated by women for the mostly male audience. The music hall was then acquired by Hyman and Alexander and had a grand re-opening on Monday, 23 December 1895, one week before the failed Jameson raid. Another source suggests the theatre building was eventually put up for auction by Richard Currie's Sales on Tuesday, February 22, 1898, and Searelle left the country.
+This theatre was described as a music hall where lots of drinking and smoking took place. It regularly hosted international performers and could accommodate any entertainment except for ballet due to the small stage. By all accounts, it was a rough place due to the excessive drinking where fights frequently broke out. Visitors complained about the ‘low brow’ performances which were dominated by women for the mostly male audience. The music hall was then acquired by Hyman and Alexander and had a grand re-opening on Monday, 23 December 1895, one week before the failed Jameson raid. In 1896 it was listed as the [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]]. Another source suggests the theatre building was eventually put up for auction by Richard Currie's Sales on Tuesday, February 22, 1898, and Searelle left the country.
 == Performances ==

@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 ===Searelle's Theatre Royal or [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]]===
-In 1892, Searelle converted his Theatre Royal and re-opened it. It appears to have become known as [[Searelle's Theatre Royal]]. In 1896 it was listed as the [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]] on 27 December 1892.
+In 1892, Searelle converted his Theatre Royal and re-opened it on 27 December 1892. It appears to have become known as [[Searelle's Theatre Royal]]. In 1896 it was listed as the [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]].
 He constructed his own theatre using the best quality burnt bricks. It had a frontage of 100 feet and was situated on plots 316, 317, 320 and 321, central Commissioner Street, Marshall's Town, Johannesburg. The building consisted of a theatre, shops, bar, tearooms, cafes and Searelle Chambers, as well as a barber, tobacconist and watchmaker's shops. There were also seven two-roomed offices with private toilets. Electric lights and water were supplied. Facing Fox Street were four semi-detached, double-storied houses, each containing five rooms, a kitchen, a pantry etc.

@@ Line 91: / Line 91: @@
 He constructed his own theatre using the best quality burnt bricks. It had a frontage of 100 feet and was situated on plots 316, 317, 320 and 321, central Commissioner Street, Marshall's Town, Johannesburg. The building consisted of a theatre, shops, bar, tearooms, cafes and Searelle Chambers, as well as a barber, tobacconist and watchmaker's shops. There were also seven two-roomed offices with private toilets. Electric lights and water were supplied. Facing Fox Street were four semi-detached, double-storied houses, each containing five rooms, a kitchen, a pantry etc.
-Due to the impresario's financial troubles, the theatre building was eventually put up for auction by Richard Currie's Sales on Tuesday, February 22, 1898, and Searelle left the country.
+This theatre was described as a music hall where lots of drinking and smoking took place. It regularly hosted international performers and could accommodate any entertainment except for ballet due to the small stage. By all accounts, it was a rough place due to the excessive drinking where fights frequently broke out. Visitors complained about the ‘low brow’ performances which were dominated by women for the mostly male audience. The music hall was then acquired by Hyman and Alexander and had a grand re-opening on Monday, 23 December 1895, one week before the failed Jameson raid. Another source suggests the theatre building was eventually put up for auction by Richard Currie's Sales on Tuesday, February 22, 1898, and Searelle left the country.
 == Performances ==

@@ Line 88: / Line 88: @@
 ===Searelle's Theatre Royal or [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]]===
 In 1892, Searelle converted his Theatre Royal and re-opened it. It appears to have become known as [[Searelle's Theatre Royal]]. In 1896 it was listed as the [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]] on 27 December 1892.
 == Performances ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:00, 28 January 2026
Line 86:		Line 86:
	In 1889 the Lessee and Manager was [[A Bonamici]].		In 1889 the Lessee and Manager was [[A Bonamici]].

		+	===Searelle's Theatre Royal or [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]]===
	In 1892, Searelle converted his Theatre Royal and re-opened it. It appears to have become known as [[Searelle's Theatre Royal]]. In 1896 it was listed as the [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]] on 27 December 1892.		In 1892, Searelle converted his Theatre Royal and re-opened it. It appears to have become known as [[Searelle's Theatre Royal]]. In 1896 it was listed as the [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]] on 27 December 1892.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:58, 28 January 2026
Line 185:		Line 185:

	'Rent saga may mean curtains for Cape theatre'. ''[[IOL]]''. 18 December 2005.		'Rent saga may mean curtains for Cape theatre'. ''[[IOL]]''. 18 December 2005.
−
−	~~https://johannesburg1912.com/2013/07/29/theatres-in-early-johannesburg/~~

	https://johannesburg1912.com/2013/07/29/theatres-in-early-johannesburg/		https://johannesburg1912.com/2013/07/29/theatres-in-early-johannesburg/

@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 In 1889 the Lessee and Manager was [[A Bonamici]].
-In 1892, Searelle converted his Theatre Royal and re-opened it as the [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]] on 27 December 1892.
+In 1892, Searelle converted his Theatre Royal and re-opened it. It appears to have become known as [[Searelle's Theatre Royal]]. In 1896 it was listed as the [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]] on 27 December 1892.
 == Performances ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:52, 28 January 2026
Line 85:		Line 85:

	In 1889 the Lessee and Manager was [[A Bonamici]].		In 1889 the Lessee and Manager was [[A Bonamici]].
		+
		+	In 1892, Searelle converted his Theatre Royal and re-opened it as the [[Royal Theatre of Varieties]] on 27 December 1892.

	== Performances ==		== Performances ==