Liefhebbery Tooneel
A Dutch term equivalent to Amateur Theatre. Used as a generic term, but also as the name for a specific venue.
As general term
The Dutch name for "Amateur Theatre". In adapted form, i.e. as Liefhebbery Toneel, this was adopted by early Afrikaans. Later Afrikaans began to use Amateur Toneel or Amateur Teater as terms in general use.
A Cape Town theatre
The name Liefhebbery Tooneel was given to a theatre which the amateur company Tot Nut en Vermaak opened in Hope Street, Cape Town in 1825, as an alternative venue to the Afrikaansche Schouwburg. It was this society's exclusive venue until 1834 (with the exception of sporadic appearances by English companies). Later the children’s dramatic society Tot Oefening en Vermaak played there (from 1835-1836) and from 1834 to 1838 the venue was also used by C.E. Boniface's Vlyt en Kunst. From 1837, Tot Oefening en Vermaak played there.
It was later known as both the Hope Street Theatre and (from 1846, when it was overhauled) the Victoria Theatre, under which names it continued to exist until 1851. It was also briefly known as the Sans Souci Theatre in 1848, when Theatre de L’Union played there. The Liefhebbery Tooneel should however not be confused with another venue also situated in Hope Street, and briefly used in 1849, which was known as Haupt’s Warehouse or Haupt's Theatre. (Bosman, 1928;) [JH]
Sources
Bosman, 1928, [JH]
For more information
Return to
Return to South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page