Het Privaat Hollandsch Toneellievend Gezelschap
Het Privaat Hollandsch Toneellievend Gezelschap ("The Private Dutch Theatre-loving Company") (1844 – 1846- 1855; 1865-1910) was one of the longest lasting of the Dutch amateur theatre societies in Cape Town. Also known as Het Privaat Hollandsch Tooneellievend Gezelschap, or by its motto: "Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst".
Formed 1844 from the amalgamation of Tot Nut en Vermaak and Door Yver Vruchtbaar, they performed under the motto "Door Yver Bloeit de Kunst", a name under they were also known.
Their history falls into three periods:
1844 – 1846
Their first production Natuur en Pligt (Volmeranges) and De Dronkaard (Kotzebue) took place on 5 June 1844 in the Roeland Street Theatre. Unlike the English companies at the time the Dutch allowed actresses in their company. The company received good reviews throughout 1844/5.
Other pieces in this period included Roland de Monglave, of De Zegepraal der Onschuld and Het Misverstand, of Elk is een Dief in zyne Nering (3 April 1846);
Finally on 2 November 1846 it was announced that the company would stage its last production, reason being insufficient support from the Dutch community. De Baron van Felsheim (Bernos) and Uilenspiegel (Kotzebue) was its last performance.
1848-1855
According to F.C.L. Bosman (1928) they re-emerged in 1848/9, now under the leadership of J.C. Combrink, and the company now included actresses. In June 1855 it closed down for ten years, because no suitable venue was available. According to Ludwig Binge (1969) the final presentation of this phase was on 28 June 1855.
1865-1910
In August 1865 it was once more resuscitated by Combrink, and it entered a very busy and influential period, performing at a variety of venues in Cape Town, Paarl, Stellenbosch, even on Robben Island. Its final production was a rather dated performance of Het Geheim by A de Bruine on 4 June 1910 at the Good Hope Theatre. They often performed for charity and offered benefits for captains and officers of visiting ships.
Sources
D.C. Boonzaier, 1980. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)
F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [1]: pp.
F.C.L. Bosman, 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.
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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