Difference between revisions of "E.C. Yorke"

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==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
  
An amateur performer named [[E.C. Yorke]] is mentioned as a member of the entourage of the Duke of Edinburgh during his second visit to the Cape Colony in 1867.  He is described by [[F.C.L. Bosman]] (1980, p229, paraphrasing the critic of the ''[[Cape Argus]]'' of 14 September 1867) as "a practiced and exceptionally competent amateur".   
+
An amateur performer named [[E.C. Yorke]] is mentioned as a member of the entourage of the Duke of Edinburgh during his second visit to the Cape Colony in 1867.  He is described by [[F.C.L. Bosman]] (1980, p229, paraphrasing the critic of the ''[[Cape Argus]]'' of 14 September 1867) as "a practiced and exceptionally competent amateur", and seems to have been considered "the best interpreter in the Cape at this time", after [[G.V. Brooke]], by the critic of the ''[[Cape Argus]]''.   
  
 
He is first mentioned as a guest actor on 3 September 1867, when he assisted [[Mrs Duret]] in doing scenes  from ''[[Hamlet]]'' (she playing "Gertrude", Yorke appearing as "Hamlet", [[Thomas Brazier]] as the "Ghost" and [[J. Spencer]] as "Polonius"). He is next named as a member of the cast for a special performance put on in recognition of the Duke's visit by [[Mrs Duret]] and her company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town, on 17 September, 1867. On this occasion he seems to have appeared in the performance of ''[[The Isle of St Tropez]]'' (Williams and Burnand) with two other members of the Duke's companions, i.e. Messrs [[Charles]] ([[Lord Newry]]) and [[FitzGeorge]].
 
He is first mentioned as a guest actor on 3 September 1867, when he assisted [[Mrs Duret]] in doing scenes  from ''[[Hamlet]]'' (she playing "Gertrude", Yorke appearing as "Hamlet", [[Thomas Brazier]] as the "Ghost" and [[J. Spencer]] as "Polonius"). He is next named as a member of the cast for a special performance put on in recognition of the Duke's visit by [[Mrs Duret]] and her company in the [[Theatre Royal]], Cape Town, on 17 September, 1867. On this occasion he seems to have appeared in the performance of ''[[The Isle of St Tropez]]'' (Williams and Burnand) with two other members of the Duke's companions, i.e. Messrs [[Charles]] ([[Lord Newry]]) and [[FitzGeorge]].
  
Yorke once more appears in Cape Town in 1870, when he is again mentioned as a member of the entourage of the Duke of Edinburgh during his third visit to the Colony. On this occasion he appeared in a series of excerpts from Shakespeare in the [[Royal Lyceum Theatre]] on 9 July, under the management of [[Webster]]. He also participated in a benefit performance for the poor under the patronage of the Duke, appearing in ''[[Henry VIII]]'' (as "Cardinal Wolseley") and in scenes from ''[[Hamlet]]''.
+
Yorke once more appears in Cape Town in 1870, when he is again mentioned as a member of the entourage of the Duke of Edinburgh during his third visit to the Colony. On this occasion he appeared in a series of excerpts from Shakespeare in the [[Royal Lyceum Theatre]] on 9 July, under the management of [[Webster]]. He also participated in a benefit performance for the poor under the patronage of the Duke, appearing in ''[[Henry VIII]]'' (as "Cardinal Wolseley") and the lead in scenes from ''[[Hamlet]]''. (The rest of the cast consisted of the professional actors such as [[Ben Webster]], Brazier, Devere and Leffler.)
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==

Revision as of 05:40, 14 January 2022

E.C. Yorke (fl 1860s-1870s)[] was an amateur performer.

Also referred to as "The Honorouble Mr Yorke" on some occasions.

Biography

The Hon. E.C. Yorke is listed in The Illustrated Queen Almanac and Lady's Calendar for 1879, as an "Extra Equerry" in the household of the Duke of Edinburgh, during his second visit to the Cape Colony, in order to lay the foundation stone for the new docks in Cape Town harbour.

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

An amateur performer named E.C. Yorke is mentioned as a member of the entourage of the Duke of Edinburgh during his second visit to the Cape Colony in 1867. He is described by F.C.L. Bosman (1980, p229, paraphrasing the critic of the Cape Argus of 14 September 1867) as "a practiced and exceptionally competent amateur", and seems to have been considered "the best interpreter in the Cape at this time", after G.V. Brooke, by the critic of the Cape Argus.

He is first mentioned as a guest actor on 3 September 1867, when he assisted Mrs Duret in doing scenes from Hamlet (she playing "Gertrude", Yorke appearing as "Hamlet", Thomas Brazier as the "Ghost" and J. Spencer as "Polonius"). He is next named as a member of the cast for a special performance put on in recognition of the Duke's visit by Mrs Duret and her company in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, on 17 September, 1867. On this occasion he seems to have appeared in the performance of The Isle of St Tropez (Williams and Burnand) with two other members of the Duke's companions, i.e. Messrs Charles (Lord Newry) and FitzGeorge.

Yorke once more appears in Cape Town in 1870, when he is again mentioned as a member of the entourage of the Duke of Edinburgh during his third visit to the Colony. On this occasion he appeared in a series of excerpts from Shakespeare in the Royal Lyceum Theatre on 9 July, under the management of Webster. He also participated in a benefit performance for the poor under the patronage of the Duke, appearing in Henry VIII (as "Cardinal Wolseley") and the lead in scenes from Hamlet. (The rest of the cast consisted of the professional actors such as Ben Webster, Brazier, Devere and Leffler.)

Sources

The Illustrated Queen Almanac and Lady's Calendar (Published at the Queen Office) Almanacs 1877-1897[1]


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, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 227, 229, 252-3, 280, 291, 294

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