J. Chesters

J. Chesters was a sergeant in the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot when the Regiment was sent to the Eastern Frontier of the Cape Colony (now the Eastern Province, South Africa) between 1860 and 1862 shortly after the Xhosa cattle-killing movement and famine (1857-1858). The regiment was based in Grahamstown and Keiskama Hoek. (Modern spelling: Keiskammahoek.)

He held the rank of sergeant during his service in the Cape Colony.

Sergeant J. Chesters acted in four productions during his stay in the Eastern Frontier.

J. Chesters was a member of the Dramatic Club, and his performances were with the The Sergeants and the Amateurs of the Band.

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 14, Keiskama Hoek, December 10, 1862, page 270.)

Biography

He was one of the Sergeants who produced shows for the entertainment of the troops and nearby civilians.

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

October 8, 1860: Acted in The Sergeants performance of Mark Lemon's one-act farce, The Camp at Chobham. (Second Sapper). (North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 2, Grahamstown, September 15, 1860, page 18.)

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 3, Grahamstown, November 1, 1860, page 30.)

October 12, 1860: Acted in The Sergeants staged William Shakespeare's Tragedy of Macbeth. (Rosse).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 3, November 1, 1860. Page 31.)

November 4, 1861: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of Thomas J. Lynch's two-act drama, The Rose of Ettrick Vale or The Bridal of the Borders. (Glenbrae, a hunter of the highland border).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 9, November 13, 1861. Page 125.)

February 17, 1862: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of The Omnibus, or A Convenient Distance. (Mr Dobbs).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 12, February 28, 1862, page 179/180.)