Difference between revisions of "African Consolidated Theatres"

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[[African Consolidated Theatres]] ([[ACT]]) was a national theatre and film organization active in the country for much of the 20th century.  
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[[African Consolidated Theatres]] ([[ACT]]) was a national theatre and film organization active in the country for much of the 20th century established in about 1932.  
  
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Also found as [[African Consolidated Theatres Ltd]], but colloquially referred to simply as '''[[African Theatres]]''' or by its acronym: '''[[ACT]]'''.   
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Also found as [[African Consolidated Theatres Ltd]] ([[ACT]]).   
  
 +
'''For more information pre-1931, see [[African Theatres Trust]].'''
  
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== Beginnings with [[African Theatres Trust]] ==
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== [[African Consolidated Theatres]] (ACT) (1931-1970)==
  
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The '''[[African Theatres Trust]]''' was founded by [[I.W. Schlesinger]] and [[A.H. Stodel]] ([[Harry Stodel]]), with the intention of saving the ailing theatre industry by organizing it nationwide. They pooled their resources to gradually gain control of theatres and cinema halls across the country and set about bringing out dramatic, musical and pantomime companies to tour their circuit.  
+
The [[African Theatres Trust]] (1913-1931) was a theatrical importing and distributing agency and management company founded by [[I.W. Schlesinger]] and [[A.H. Stodel]] ([[Harry Stodel]]). Eventually this empire grew to encompass the cinema industry as well and was renamed [[African Consolidated Theatres]] ([[ACT]]) in 1931 following a merger with [[Kinemas]]. The company became central to the development of professional theatre and film in the country. It appears it continued to produce theatre until 1970.  
  
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According to Groom (in Bosman, 1980: p. 435) the Trust first made its presence felt in the country in 1911, though [[Percy Tucker]] (1997: )  says it was only founded in 1913.  
+
Between 1920 and 1960 virtually no-one could play the cities without the support and involvement of [[African Theatres]]/[[African Consolidated Theatres]], or at least utilizing their facilities. The company bought the wardrobe of the [[Graaff-Reinet Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society]] upon its disbandment for £2000. In 1932 they contracted the Johannesburg [[REPS]] for a production of ''[[Dangerous Corner]]'' in [[His Majesty’s Theatre]]  and in 1933  for one of Shaw’s ''[[Arms and the Man]]''. In 1941, when the outbreak of war had seriously curtailed professional theatre in South Africa, African Theatres once again invited the [[REPS]] to take over the [[Standard Theatre]], and from then till the end of war in 1945, almost all of its work was ceded to the [[REPS]]. They later collaborated with [[NTO]] on a number of projects as well.
  
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== [[African Consolidated Theatres]] (ACT) ==
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[[Hymie Udwin]] was an executive at ACT for many years.
  
 +
[[African Consolidated Theatres Ltd]] was acquired by [[20th Century Fox]] in 1955.
  
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Eventually this empire grew to encompass the mighty cinema industry as well and was renamed [[African Consolidated Theatres]] (or simply [[ACT]]) in 19**. Soon the company became  central to the development of professional theatre and film in the country, and remained so till its demise in 1916*1961?.
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==Productions==
  
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Between 1920 and 1960 virtually no-one could play the cities without the support and involvement of [[ACT]], or at least utilizing their facilities.For example it bought the wardrobe of the Graaff-Reinet Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society upon its disbandment for £2000. In 1932 they contracted the Johannesburg REPS for a production of Dangerous Corner in His Majesty’s Theatre  and in 1933 for one of Shaw’s Arms and the Man. In 1941, when the outbreak of war had seriously curtailed professional theatre in South Africa, African Theatres once again invited the REPS to take over the Standard Theatre, and from then till the end of war in 1945, almost all of its work was ceded to the REPS. They later collaborated with NTO on a number of projects as well. (For the plays done or supported by ACT, see Part 3, Sections 4a and 4b) (See Du Toit,  1988; Bosman 1981; Fletcher, 1994, Kruger, 1999, Stodel, 196*; Tucker 1997) **THIS NEEDS SERIOUS RESEARCH AND EXPANSION** [TH] African Consolidated Theatres (ACT): Hymie Udwin was an executive at ACT for many years.Company responsible for productions of amongst others Robinson Crusoe, Night must fall and The corn is green. Night must fall by Emlyn Williams was a play that André Huguenet performed in as a psychopathic killer. One of his first English performances. 1940. They produced The Desert Song in the early Forties, which was staged at the Empire. They also produced Alice in Wonderland based on the book by Lewis Caroll. Produced by Phil Levard at the Standard Theatre in 1941. African Theatres invited John Connell to present his operas, such as Tosca, at the Empire in 1941. The Sleeping Beauty by ****, was a pantomime produced at the Empire Theatre in 1942. Phil Levard directed/produced The peepshow of 1945, in 1945. George Formby performed for ACT at the Colosseum Theatre in 1946. Brought the Rodgers and Hammerstein hit Oklahoma! To His Majesty’s in 1948. Choreographed by Agnes De Mille. Starring La Verne Burden opposite Bob Lyon. Imported Ivor Novello and his full company to tour his musical Perchance to Dream  which appeared at His Majesty's. They imported Irving Berlin’s musical, Annie Get Your Gun in 1949 starring Bonita Primrose and Bob Lyon, both from Oklahoma! fame. Jimmy Mackenzie was responsible for publicity at this time. In 1950 they staged Brigadoon, directed by Phil Levard. This was the last production which he directed for ACT.  It starred imported leads Louise Boyd and Michael O’Dowd. Olive King and June Hern were two notable local artists who were used in the chorus and in feature parts.  Their imports of Italian companies reigned supreme between 1951 and 1956. They invited three of Brian Brooke’s productions to be part of their 1949 touring circuit: Coward’s Present Laughter, directed by John Roberts. Starring Brian Brooke, Petrina Brooke and Cynthia Klette; No Room at the Inn, directed by Brian starring Petrina; The Heiress, directed by Leonard Schach. 1950 ended with African Theatres’ usual Christmas pantomime Cinderella starring British comedian Tommy Trinder as its star at His Majesty’s. 1952 ended with their production of Dick Whittington, for which they brought out Terry-Thomas. This pantomime was directed by Frank Rogaly. Act booked Danny Kaye, a stand-up comedian to play in Johannesburg in1954. ACT brought Maurice Schwartz and his Yiddish Art Theatre Company from New York to His Majesty’s in 1954. Taubie Kushlick celebrated her quarter-century in the theatre by directing two American plays in 1955 at His Majesty’s in association with ACT. The first was The Desperate Hours starring Bill Brewer and Sadie Festenstein, and the other, The Fifth Season, starring the American actor Joseph Buloff. ACT brought out Sir Edmund Hillary to give lectures at the Plaza Theatre in 1955. ACT presented Bernard Delfont’s London version of the Folies Bergère at His Majesty’s Theatre at the end of 1957. They presented the American musical, The Pajama Game in 1958. It marked the Broadway choreographic debut of Bob Fosse, and starred the young English actor, Michael McGovern, who stayed on to become one of our leading actors. [[Bertha Egnos]] staged ''[[Bo Jungle]]'' in association with [[African Theatres]] at the [[Empire Theatre]] in 1959. They presented My Fair Lady, starring Diane Todd and David Oxley, at the Empire in 1962. It played to 234 packed houses before repeating its success in Cape Town and Durban. They imported Lilac Time from Tom Arnold as part of the Johannesburg Festival in 1964. This operetta starred Marion Studholme and Thomas Round. Anthony Farmer staged and designed the sets of the Moulin Rouge show from Paris for ACT at the Empire in 1964. They presented Zizi Jeanmaire at the Empire in a large-scale revue in 1964. They also presented British comedian Bruce Forsyth in 1964. They brought The Seekers to the Colosseum in 1966. Joan Brickhill and Louis Burke co-devised The Minstrel Scandals for ACT, which opened at the Alhambra in Cape Town before playing at the Empire in 1966. Frank Lazarus did the vocal arrangements, Boris Cohen was the musical director, and performers included Aubrey Ellis, Lynton Burns, Olive King, Michael Fisher, Stephanie Shiller, Beryl Ellis, Jeanette James, Ronnie Grainge and Charles Stodel with Joan Brickhill playing the lead girl. Together with Goerge and Alfred Black, they presented Michael Bentine, Joe Baker and Jane Fyffe in Let Yourself Go during the Christmas season of 1967. Taubie Kushlick directed Fiddler on the Roof  for ACT at the Empire in 1969. It starred Simon Israeli and Lya Dulizkaya ***  
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Productions staged by [[African Consolidated Theatres]] include:
 +
 
 +
1932: ''[[Dangerous Corner]]'' (in association with [[Johannesburg Reps]]); ''[[The Barber of Seville]]''
 +
 
 +
1933: ''[[Arms and the Man]]'' (in association with [[Johannesburg Reps]]); ''[[Children in Uniform]]''; ''[[Nine Till Six]]'', ''[[Verborge Sonde]]''; ''[[Misdade van die Vaders]]'' ; ''[[Aida]]''
 +
 
 +
1934: ''[[Kain]]''
 +
 
 +
1939: ''[[Robinson Crusoe]]''
 +
 
 +
1940s: (date unknown) ''[[The Desert Song]]''
 +
 
 +
1940: ''[[Night Must Fall]]''; ''[[The Corn is Green]]''
 +
 
 +
1941: ''[[Alice in Wonderland]]''; ''[[Tosca]]'' (in association with [[John Connell]]); ''[[Jack and the Beanstalk]]''
 +
 
 +
1942: ''[[The Sleeping Beauty]]''
 +
 
 +
1943: ''[[Dick Whittington and his Cat]]''; ''[[The Bartered Bride]]'', ''[[Madame Butterfly]]'' and ''[[Rigoletto]]'' (the three operas presented in association with the [[University of Cape Town]], the [[National Opera Company]], the [[Cape Town Municipal Orchestra]] and the [[Johannesburg Philharmonic Society]])
 +
 
 +
1944: ''[[Dick Whittington and his Cat]]''; ''[[Cinderella]]''; ''[[And So to Bed]]'' (in association with [[Munro-Inglis Company]]); ''[[Rebecca]]''; ''[[Milestones]]'' and ''[[Blithe Spirit]]'' (in association with [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company]])
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 +
1945: ''[[The Peepshow of 1945]]''; ''[[Tosca]]'', ''[[Aladdin]]''; ''[[Her Little Ladyship]]''; ''[[While the Sun Shines]]''; ''[[Full House]]'' (in association with [[Munro-Inglis Company]]); ''[[The Merry Wives of Windsor]]'' (in association with [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company]]); ''[[La Traviata]]''; ''[[La Bohème]]''
 +
 
 +
1946: ''[[Robinson Crusoe]]''; ''[[Die Kerkmuis]]'' (in association with [[Die Kunsteater]])  
 +
 
 +
1947: ''[[The Man in Half Moon Street]]'' (in association with [[Eric Egan]] and [[David Goldblatt]])
 +
 
 +
1948: ''[[Oklahoma!]]'' 
 +
 
 +
1949: Three [[Brian Brooke Company]] productions: ''[[Present Laughter]]'', ''[[No Room at the Inn]]'', ''[[The Heiress]]''
 +
 
 +
1950s: ''[[Robinson Crusoe on Ice]]'' at various venues in the country.
 +
 
 +
1950: ''[[Brigadoon]]'' ([[Phil Levard]]'s last production for ACT); ''[[Cinderella]]''; ''[[Hassan]]'' (in association with [[NTO]])
 +
 
 +
1951: ''[[Don't Listen, Ladies!]]''
 +
 
 +
1952: ''[[Dick Whittington]]''
 +
 
 +
1955: Two [[Taubie Kushlick]] productions: ''[[The Desperate Hours]]'' and ''[[The Fifth Season]]''
 +
 
 +
1958: ''[[The Pajama Game]]''
 +
 
 +
1959: ''[[Bo Jungle]]'' (in association with [[Bertha Egnos]])
 +
 
 +
1962: ''[[My Fair Lady]]''
 +
 
 +
1964: ''[[The Moulin Rouge Show]]''
 +
 
 +
1966: ''[[The Minstrel Scandals]]''
 +
 
 +
1969: ''[[Fiddler on the Roof]]''; ''[[Robert and Elizabeth]]''
 +
 
 +
1970: ''[[Non-Stop Minstrel Scandals]]''
 +
 
 +
==International artists==
 +
 
 +
1946: [[George Formby]] performed for [[ACT]] at the [[Colosseum Theatre]].
 +
 
 +
1947: Imported [[Ivor Novello]] and his full company to tour his musical ''[[Perchance to Dream]]'' which appeared at [[His Majesty's Theatre]].  
 +
 
 +
1949: They imported Irving Berlin’s musical, ''[[Annie Get Your Gun]]'' ([[Jimmy Mackenzie]] was responsible for publicity at this time).
 +
 
 +
1952: In association with the [[NTO]], ACT presented the [[Old Vic Company]] on tour in South Africa, with ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'', ''[[Othello]]'', ''[[The Other Heart]]'' and ''[[Macbeth]]''.
 +
 
 +
1954: [[ACT]] booked [[Danny Kaye]], a stand-up comedian to play in Johannesburg; ACT brought Maurice Schwartz and his Yiddish Art Theatre Company from New York to [[His Majesty’s Theatre]].  
 +
 
 +
1955: [[ACT]] brought out Sir Edmund Hillary to give lectures at the [[Plaza Theatre]].  
 +
 
 +
1957: Bernard Delfont’s London version of the ''[[Folies Bergère]]''; ACT presented international ballet stars Beryl Grey, Oleg Briansky and conductor [[David Tidboald]] on tour.
 +
 
 +
1964: They imported ''[[Lilac Time]]'' from Tom Arnold as part of the [[Johannesburg Festival]]; they presented [[Zizi Jeanmaire]] at the [[Empire Theatre]] in a large-scale revue; they also presented British comedian Bruce Forsyth.  
 +
 
 +
1966: They brought The Seekers to the [[Colosseum Theatre]],
 +
 
 +
1967: Together with George and Alfred Black, they presented [[Michael Bentine]], [[Joe Baker]] and [[Jane Fyffe]] in ''[[Let Yourself Go]]'' during the Christmas season of 1967.
 +
 
 +
==Venues==
 +
African Consolidated Theatres built or acquired a number of venues around South Africa. Some of these include:
 +
* [[Alhambra Theatre]], Cape Town
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* The [[Capitol Theatre]], Pretoria
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* The [[Colosseum]], Johannesburg
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* The [[Empire Theatre]], Johannesburg
 +
* [[Opera House]], Port Elizabeth
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* [[Opera House]], Pretoria
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* [[Palladium Theatre]], Johannesburg
 +
* [[Prince's Cinema]], Durban
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* [[Tivoli Theatre]], Cape Town
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
Line 41: Line 131:
 
[[Percy Tucker]]. 1997. ''Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business''. Johannesburg: [[Witwatersrand University Press]].  
 
[[Percy Tucker]]. 1997. ''Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business''. Johannesburg: [[Witwatersrand University Press]].  
  
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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
+
https://johannesburg1912.com/2013/07/29/theatres-in-early-johannesburg/
 +
 
 +
(For the plays done or supported by ACT, see Part 3, Sections 4a and 4b)
 +
 
 +
[[Walter Greyvenstein|Greyvenstein, Walter]] 1988. ''The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa''. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.
 +
 
 +
https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/827035/the-130-year-old-south-african-company-that-remains-a-household-name-in-entertainment/?__cf_chl_f_tk=R71mUtHukeMkqeZs1uSB7BYi6fBAVxtSX2jCsesMgQQ-1782827732-1.0.1.1-eX749ehudzSeZRC8B64WN7UeZaOmIdXnVoywXq.3MqE
 +
 
 +
Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==

Latest revision as of 16:17, 30 June 2026

African Consolidated Theatres (ACT) was a national theatre and film organization active in the country for much of the 20th century established in about 1932.

Also found as African Consolidated Theatres Ltd (ACT).

For more information pre-1931, see African Theatres Trust.

African Consolidated Theatres (ACT) (1931-1970)

The African Theatres Trust (1913-1931) was a theatrical importing and distributing agency and management company founded by I.W. Schlesinger and A.H. Stodel (Harry Stodel). Eventually this empire grew to encompass the cinema industry as well and was renamed African Consolidated Theatres (ACT) in 1931 following a merger with Kinemas. The company became central to the development of professional theatre and film in the country. It appears it continued to produce theatre until 1970.

Between 1920 and 1960 virtually no-one could play the cities without the support and involvement of African Theatres/African Consolidated Theatres, or at least utilizing their facilities. The company bought the wardrobe of the Graaff-Reinet Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society upon its disbandment for £2000. In 1932 they contracted the Johannesburg REPS for a production of Dangerous Corner in His Majesty’s Theatre and in 1933 for one of Shaw’s Arms and the Man. In 1941, when the outbreak of war had seriously curtailed professional theatre in South Africa, African Theatres once again invited the REPS to take over the Standard Theatre, and from then till the end of war in 1945, almost all of its work was ceded to the REPS. They later collaborated with NTO on a number of projects as well.

Hymie Udwin was an executive at ACT for many years.

African Consolidated Theatres Ltd was acquired by 20th Century Fox in 1955.

Productions

Productions staged by African Consolidated Theatres include:

1932: Dangerous Corner (in association with Johannesburg Reps); The Barber of Seville

1933: Arms and the Man (in association with Johannesburg Reps); Children in Uniform; Nine Till Six, Verborge Sonde; Misdade van die Vaders ; Aida

1934: Kain

1939: Robinson Crusoe

1940s: (date unknown) The Desert Song

1940: Night Must Fall; The Corn is Green

1941: Alice in Wonderland; Tosca (in association with John Connell); Jack and the Beanstalk

1942: The Sleeping Beauty

1943: Dick Whittington and his Cat; The Bartered Bride, Madame Butterfly and Rigoletto (the three operas presented in association with the University of Cape Town, the National Opera Company, the Cape Town Municipal Orchestra and the Johannesburg Philharmonic Society)

1944: Dick Whittington and his Cat; Cinderella; And So to Bed (in association with Munro-Inglis Company); Rebecca; Milestones and Blithe Spirit (in association with Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company)

1945: The Peepshow of 1945; Tosca, Aladdin; Her Little Ladyship; While the Sun Shines; Full House (in association with Munro-Inglis Company); The Merry Wives of Windsor (in association with Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company); La Traviata; La Bohème

1946: Robinson Crusoe; Die Kerkmuis (in association with Die Kunsteater)

1947: The Man in Half Moon Street (in association with Eric Egan and David Goldblatt)

1948: Oklahoma!

1949: Three Brian Brooke Company productions: Present Laughter, No Room at the Inn, The Heiress

1950s: Robinson Crusoe on Ice at various venues in the country.

1950: Brigadoon (Phil Levard's last production for ACT); Cinderella; Hassan (in association with NTO)

1951: Don't Listen, Ladies!

1952: Dick Whittington

1955: Two Taubie Kushlick productions: The Desperate Hours and The Fifth Season

1958: The Pajama Game

1959: Bo Jungle (in association with Bertha Egnos)

1962: My Fair Lady

1964: The Moulin Rouge Show

1966: The Minstrel Scandals

1969: Fiddler on the Roof; Robert and Elizabeth

1970: Non-Stop Minstrel Scandals

International artists

1946: George Formby performed for ACT at the Colosseum Theatre.

1947: Imported Ivor Novello and his full company to tour his musical Perchance to Dream which appeared at His Majesty's Theatre.

1949: They imported Irving Berlin’s musical, Annie Get Your Gun (Jimmy Mackenzie was responsible for publicity at this time).

1952: In association with the NTO, ACT presented the Old Vic Company on tour in South Africa, with A Midsummer Night's Dream, Othello, The Other Heart and Macbeth.

1954: ACT booked Danny Kaye, a stand-up comedian to play in Johannesburg; ACT brought Maurice Schwartz and his Yiddish Art Theatre Company from New York to His Majesty’s Theatre.

1955: ACT brought out Sir Edmund Hillary to give lectures at the Plaza Theatre.

1957: Bernard Delfont’s London version of the Folies Bergère; ACT presented international ballet stars Beryl Grey, Oleg Briansky and conductor David Tidboald on tour.

1964: They imported Lilac Time from Tom Arnold as part of the Johannesburg Festival; they presented Zizi Jeanmaire at the Empire Theatre in a large-scale revue; they also presented British comedian Bruce Forsyth.

1966: They brought The Seekers to the Colosseum Theatre,

1967: Together with George and Alfred Black, they presented Michael Bentine, Joe Baker and Jane Fyffe in Let Yourself Go during the Christmas season of 1967.

Venues

African Consolidated Theatres built or acquired a number of venues around South Africa. Some of these include:

Sources

D.C. Boonzaier. 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1923. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik.

Brian Brooke. 1978. My Own Personal Star: An Autobiography. Johannesburg: The Limelight Press.

P.J. du Toit. 1988. Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika. Pretoria: Academica

Jill Fletcher. 1994. The Story of Theatre in South Africa: A Guide to its History from 1780-1930. Cape Town: Vlaeberg.

Temple Hauptfleisch. 1997. Theatre and Society in South Africa: Reflections in a Fractured Mirror. Pretoria: Van Schaik[1].

Loren Kruger 1999. The Drama of South Africa: Plays, Pageants and Publics Since 1910. London: Routledge.

Olga Racster. 1951. Curtain up! The story of Cape Theatre. Cape Town: Juta.

South African History Online "A History of the South African Film Industry timeline" 1895-2003, [2]

Stodel, Jack 1962. The Audience Is Waiting. Cape Town: Howard Timmins.

Percy Tucker. 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.

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

(For the plays done or supported by ACT, see Part 3, Sections 4a and 4b)

Greyvenstein, Walter 1988. The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.

https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/827035/the-130-year-old-south-african-company-that-remains-a-household-name-in-entertainment/?__cf_chl_f_tk=R71mUtHukeMkqeZs1uSB7BYi6fBAVxtSX2jCsesMgQQ-1782827732-1.0.1.1-eX749ehudzSeZRC8B64WN7UeZaOmIdXnVoywXq.3MqE

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

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