Dido, The Queen of Carthage

Dido, The Queen of Carthage is a short play by Christopher Marlowe, with possible contributions by Thomas Nashe.

The original text

The play was seemingly first performed by the Children of the Chapel sometime between 1587 and 1593. It was first published in 1594.

Translations and adaptations

The 18th-century English composer Stephen Storace wrote an opera titled Dido, Queen of Carthage (1794)

Another musical version of Dido, The Queen of Carthage , listed as a "Grand Musical, Classical and Picturesque Extravaganza in One Act", and attributed to Durnand was apparently performed in Cape Town in the 1860-1861 season. Possibly based on the opera.

Performance history in South Africa

1860: Performed in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town by the Royal Alfred Dramatic Club on 25 November, with The Irish Tutor (Butler) and a musical interlude by the brass orchestra of the 59th Regiment. Announced as a "Grand Musical, Classical and Picturesque Extravaganza in One Act" by "Durnand".

1860: Performed in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town by the Royal Alfred Dramatic Club on 3 December with Who Do You Take Me For? (Morton.

1860: Performed in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town by the Royal Alfred Dramatic Club on 17 and 20 December with The Little Treasure and The Hundred Pound Note (Peake). The first performance was done as a benefit for Mrs Delmaine.

1860: Performed agin, by special request, in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town by the Royal Alfred Dramatic Club on 27 December with The Happy Man (Lover).

1861: Performed in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town by the Royal Alfred Dramatic Club on 10 January with Fra Diavolo, or The Beauty and the Brigands and A Night at Notting Hill (Yates and Harrington).

1861: Performed as part of "grand gala night" in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town by the Royal Alfred Dramatic Club on 23 February, with The Irish Tutor (Butler).