Private Amateur Company
The Private Amateur Company was was the name given to two amateur theatrical companies active in Cape Town in the 19th century.
Contents
The Private Amateur Company 1834-1837
It seems to have been formed by members of citizens of Cape Town on the demise of Booth’s All the World's a Stage in 1834. Probably a continuation of the original English Theatricals and its members no doubt become part of the other private companies that followed after its own demise in and the closure of The African Theatre in 1838 and the anti-theatrical movement's effect on theatre in Cape Town.
They usually performed under the patronage of the governor, in itially in The Amateur Theatre (1834 and 1835), then in the Cape Town Theatre (1837-1838), a periof when when they were referred to as the Private Amateur Party and even on occasion the English Amateur Company.
Their performances included:
The Private Amateur Company 1847
In 1847 there is another reference to a company of this name, though it is also named English Private Theatricals. The company seems to have consisted of Dutch-speakers and with A. van Breda as secretary, which performed three times in English in the Roeland Street Theatre. However it is possibly the same company.
See further English Private Theatricals for this company.
[TH, JH]
Sources
F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [1]: pp. 204, 206,
P.J. du Toit, 1988. Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika. Pretoria: Academica
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