Difference between revisions of "R.S. Cooper"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | [[R.S. Cooper]] (fl 1860s and 1870s) was | + | [[R.S. Cooper]] (fl 1860s and 1870s) was an actor, scene painter and set designer. |
| − | + | Also listed as as '''[[Richard Cooper]]''' in some pogrammes, aprticularly when listed as actyor, he was more often referred to as '''[[Richard Cooper]]''', '''[[Mr Cooper]]''', in the convention of the times or simply as '''[[Cooper]]'''. The name '''[[A. Cooper]]''' also occurs for a set designer/builder, but as far as can be ascertained, this was most probably a misspelling and refers to the same person. | |
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
| − | Though his involvement in theatre is recorded, little is known about his personal biography, beyond the fact that he originally | + | In the programme for The Lonely Man of the Ocean |
| + | |||
| + | Though his involvement in theatre is recorded, little is known about his personal biography, beyond the fact that he appears to have come from England (where he had been with the Royal Britannia Theatre), had originally begun his career in South Africa in Port Elizabeth, later moving to Cape Town, and was married to actress and choreographer [[Mrs Cooper]]. | ||
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ||
| Line 11: | Line 13: | ||
Referred to as a "veteran artist", Cooper was probably the most prominent set designer and painter of the 1860s-1870s in Cape Town. | Referred to as a "veteran artist", Cooper was probably the most prominent set designer and painter of the 1860s-1870s in Cape Town. | ||
| − | He worked for [[Sefton Parry]] in his first fully professional season (1861) and in 1865 decorated the revamped [[Sefton Parry]]'s original [[Theatre Royal]] in Harrington Street, Cape Town for [[J.H. le Roy]], who had hired the theatre and for whom he also worked as set designer and scene painter on productions by the [[Le Roy-Duret]] company in that period. For two years (1966-1967) he also served in the same capacity for the [[Ray and Cooper Company]], founded by him, in association with performers [[Alfred Ray]], [[Mrs Ray]] and [[Mrs Cooper]]. | + | He worked for [[Sefton Parry]] in his first fully professional season (1861), inter alia as actor (billed as '''Mr [[Richard Cooper]]''') and set designer, and in 1865 decorated the revamped [[Sefton Parry]]'s original [[Theatre Royal]] in Harrington Street, Cape Town for [[J.H. le Roy]], who had hired the theatre and for whom he also worked as set designer and scene painter on productions by the [[Le Roy-Duret]] company in that period. For two years (1966-1967) he also served in the same capacity for the [[Ray and Cooper Company]], founded by him, in association with performers [[Alfred Ray]], [[Mrs Ray]] and [[Mrs Cooper]]. |
Cooper later also assisted on productions by [[Disney Roebuck]]. | Cooper later also assisted on productions by [[Disney Roebuck]]. | ||
Revision as of 07:58, 24 August 2023
R.S. Cooper (fl 1860s and 1870s) was an actor, scene painter and set designer.
Also listed as as Richard Cooper in some pogrammes, aprticularly when listed as actyor, he was more often referred to as Richard Cooper, Mr Cooper, in the convention of the times or simply as Cooper. The name A. Cooper also occurs for a set designer/builder, but as far as can be ascertained, this was most probably a misspelling and refers to the same person.
Contents
Biography
In the programme for The Lonely Man of the Ocean
Though his involvement in theatre is recorded, little is known about his personal biography, beyond the fact that he appears to have come from England (where he had been with the Royal Britannia Theatre), had originally begun his career in South Africa in Port Elizabeth, later moving to Cape Town, and was married to actress and choreographer Mrs Cooper.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Referred to as a "veteran artist", Cooper was probably the most prominent set designer and painter of the 1860s-1870s in Cape Town.
He worked for Sefton Parry in his first fully professional season (1861), inter alia as actor (billed as Mr Richard Cooper) and set designer, and in 1865 decorated the revamped Sefton Parry's original Theatre Royal in Harrington Street, Cape Town for J.H. le Roy, who had hired the theatre and for whom he also worked as set designer and scene painter on productions by the Le Roy-Duret company in that period. For two years (1966-1967) he also served in the same capacity for the Ray and Cooper Company, founded by him, in association with performers Alfred Ray, Mrs Ray and Mrs Cooper.
Cooper later also assisted on productions by Disney Roebuck.
Among the sets he did over his active period have been:
Our Volunteers (ca. 1863)
Ali Baba and The Forty Thieves, or The Fairy Brilliantina and Harlequin and the Magic Donkey (1878)
Sources
F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 53, 96-117, 175, 184-195, 200-260, 290-296, 299-300, 320, 328, 364-367, 449.
Go to the ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities C
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
