Sefton Parry and Company

History

On November 28, 1861, a theatre opened in the store of the Port Elizabeth Boating Company in Commerce Street. The Port Elizabeth Boating Company was formed with Daniel Phillips as Managing Director in 1841. The first professional acting company to visit Port Elizabeth was an English company under Sefton Parry. The company started work immediately after their arrival by steamer.

South African performances

The first show at the Boating Company's store-cum-theatre was Henry Thornton Craven's two-act drama, The Post Boy. This was followed by “the celebrated farce” The Bonnie Fishwife by Charles Selby. These productions created great interest in theatre and a family ticket for four people cost £10/10/0.

As news of the success of the performances spread, the residents of Port Elizabeth recognised the need for a proper theatre and funds were collected for the New Theatre. The Sefton Parry Company had a very successful three months season which consisted of 12 different performances.