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 return to Cape Town in 1857, Sefton Parry utilized the club members (as well as those from other local companies) to produce his pantomime and other productions in the Drawing Room Theatre, which he had had constructed for his use, even though some acrimony apparently 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 to form his own company, the Alfred Dramatic Club. It had almost 40 members and worked as a semi-professional company, with Parry as manager and G.H. Galt as secretary. The new 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 March 1861 the amateur members of the Royal Alfred Dramatic Club rejoined forces with the Cape Town Dramatic Club on occasion - in such cases referred to as the Cape Town and Royal Alfred Dramatic Club - and undertook a few co-presentations in the Theatre Royal during the 1861-1862 season.

In 1861:

On 7 March: My Friend in the Straps (Selby) and Othello a "musical extravaganza" by an anonymous author.

On 11 and 14 March: Entertainment St George

On 1 August: The Rivals (Sheridan), a dance by Lizzie Powell and The Bonnie Fishwife ()

In 1862:

On 2 and 9 September: Helping Hands (), an operetta called No!!! (Clarence), and a song by Mr Beverley.

On 23 September: The Cure (with Still Waters Run Deep by the Cape Town Dramatic Club alone)

On 30 September, 2, 6 and 14 October: a "musical burlesque" of The Colleen Bawn (Byron).

Sources

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

F.C.L. Bosman, 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II: 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 53, 92-6, 157-160.

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.

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