Mr Cuerton

Mr Cuerton (17**-18**) was probably a former professional thespian attached to or used by the at the amateurs of the British garrison at the Cape from about 1813 till 1815.

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

He was apparently a chief organizer of productions for the Garrison Players in the African Theatre during this period, not only creating, directing and participating in productions, but also at times being responsible for the sale of tickets from his quarters at number 8 Lely Street.

He seems to have been a singer, whistler and dancer himself, often performing in this capacity in interludes between plays, and clearly had a strong interest in the pantomime, according to Bosman (1928: p.144-5) influencing the early work of Charles Etienne Boniface.

Among the productions where we find him specifically mentioned are -

In 1813: a Harlequin Pantomime, presented on 17 June as a benefit performance "for the widows and orphans of the troops in the Garrison", and including a military concert; on 17 July with The Village Lawyer (Macready) and on 14 August with a shortened version of Shakespeare's King Lear. On 23 October he is responsible for an evening of song and dance, as accompaniment to The Village Lawyer and Robinson Crusoe, or Harlequin Friday (Sheridan), and on 6 November a repeat of the Sheridan pantomime, with a whistling performance folk songs.

In 1814: On 16 April a pantomime called Three Witches, or Harlequin Reanimated was done along with a "grand ballet" called Don Juan, or The Libertine Destroyed (Shadwell),

Sources

F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [1]: pp. 143-146, 159-177.

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