William Henry Bell

William Henry Bell (1873-1946). Composer, conductor, teacher.

Affectionally nick-named ‘Daddy Bell’ An important influence on the development of formal theatre training in the country.

Biography

Professor in and first director of the South African College of Music (later the Faculty of Music at the University of Cape Town)(1910-1934). Made dramatic studies part of music training.

Prime mover to obtain, and first general director (1931-1934) of, the University of Cape Town's Little Theatre, which opened in 1931. He helped open up the venue for “guest performances” by the amateur societies of Cape Town in dire need of suitable venues.

Besides his critical role in the South African College of Music and the Little Theatre, he was an active member of the Cape Town Repertory Theatre Society, instrumental beginning the UCT Ballet School (bringing Dulcie Howes back to South Africa to run it) and in founding of the UCT Drama Department (19*-) . [TH, JH]

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

As composer

His operas include:

• Hatsuyuki (1934)
• The Wandering Scholar (1935)
• The Pillow of Kantan (1935).

Sources

Du Toit, P.J., 1988.

Inskip, Donald P., 1972.

Binge, 1969.

Wayne Muller. 2018. A reception history of opera in Cape Town: Tracing the development of a distinctly South African operatic aesthetic (1985–2015). Unpublished PhD thesis.

“South African College of Music”. University of Cape Town. https://humanities.uct.ac.za/college-music/history

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