Chambers Theatrical Company

The Chambers Theatrical Company is a British touring theatrical company led by the British actress Emma Chambers (1848-1933).

Also known as the Chambers Theatre Company, or simply the Chambers Company,

The company performed a short season of melodrama and comedy in the Vaudeville Theatre, Cape Town, from 8 March to 19 April, 1890 and again in late 1892.

The company members included a number of seasoned local and foreign performers, among them Will R. Bernard, Albert Marsh, Joseph Ashman, Edward Vincent, Harold Selwyn, George Herbert, Affey Bevan, Emilie Bevan, Emma Chambers, Roy Aird.

Their repertoire for 1890 included plays such as The Bells of Haslemere (Pettitt) and In the Ranks (Sims).

On the return visit of the company in late 1982, they performed The Ticket-of-Leave Man (Taylor). The company now included Emma Chambers, Arthur Gilmore, Robert Brierly, James Dalton, Heinrich Varna, Mr Hawshaw, J.A. Rosier, Melter Ross, Albert Harsh, Mr Gibson, H.W. Sillaw, Sam Willougby, May Edwards, Vivienne Vincent, Mrs Willoughby and Joseph Ashman.

Sources

D.C. Boonzaier, 1980. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman, 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 390, 295

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