Cape Town Dramatic Club

The Cape Town Dramatic Club

The Cape Town Dramatic Club (1858-?) was a male-only amateur dramatic society founded in the Cape Town in 1857 or 1858 by R.W. Murray.

After his arrival in Cape Town arrived in Cape Town in June 1855, Sefton Parry utilized the club members to produce his pantomime and other productions in the Commercial Rooms, doing so again after his return in 1857, although some acrimony existed between Parry and the club members at various times. Some members of the club were also used by Charles Fraser for his 1859 season in the Cabinet Theatre.

The Alfred Dramatic Club

In 1860 Sefton Parry broke away from the Cape Town Dramatic Club and formed his own semi-professional company, the Alfred Dramatic Club. It had almost 40 members with Parry as manager and G.H. Galt as secretary. The Club limited itself to popular programmes and performed in the new Theatre Royal which Parry had had built in Harrington Street.

The Royal Alfred Dramatic Club

After the success of The Irish Tutor (2nd performance September 15, 1860) visiting Prince Alfred bestowed his name upon them, henceforth the company was known as the Royal Alfred Dramatic Club.

The Cape Town and Royal Alfred Dramatic Club

In 1860 Parry left the Cape; in March 1861 the Royal Alfred Dramatic Club rejoined forces with the Cape Town Dramatic Club and the joint company was named the Cape Town and Royal Alfred Dramatic Club.

Sources

F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [1]: pp.

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

P.J. du Toit, 1988

Jill Fletcher, 1994

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