J. F. Gay

Private J. F. Gay was a soldier serving with the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot when the Regiment was posted to the Eastern Frontier of the Cape Colony between 1860 and 1863. He came to the Cape Colony as a private. At first, the Regiment was posted to Grahamstown but was later transferred to Keiskama Hoek (Keiskammahoek) in 1862.

Private J. F. Gay

Private J. F. Gay was a member of the section of the Dramatic Club known as the Amateurs of the Band and acted in 29 productions during his stay at the Eastern Frontier of which three were with the Sergeants Dramatic Club, 23 were with the Amateurs of the Band and three are unstated. He portrayed 23 males and seven females, with the last female role in June 1861.

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 1, Grahamstown, page 6.)

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 14, Keiskama Hoek, December 10, 1862, page 270.)

Contribution to SA theatre

July 9 & 16, 1860: Played in the Band of Amateurs production of The Corsican Brothers. (Madame Sevillia dei Franchi).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 2, Grahamstown, September 15, 1860, page 15.)

July 30 and August 1, 1860: Starred in the Corps Dramatique (Band of Amateurs) two-act "comediatta" (sic) (probably commedia dell’arte, which, according to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, is an improvised kind of popular comedy in Italian theatres in the 16th – 18th centuries and is based on stock characters.) production of The Review, or The Wags of Windsor. (Grace Gaylove).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 2, Grahamstown, September 15, 1860, page 17.)

August 20th and 22nd, 1860: Starred in the three-act play produced by the Band of Amateurs, The Iron Chest. (Adam Winterton).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 2, Grahamstown, September 15, 1860, page 17.)

September 20 1860: Acted in the Band of Amateurs produced one-act farce, The Dead Shot. (Frederick Thornton).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 3, Grahamstown, November 1, 1860, page 30.)

November 26, 1860: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of The British Volunteers. (Mrs Sydney Jubkins).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 4, Christmas, 1860. Page 47.)

Christmas 1860: Acted in "a grand Balletical (sic) Introduction" entitled The Rivals. (Eastawoolly Province, a charming young lady with an elegant riding habit, and very noble sentiments).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 4, Christmas Supplement, 1860. Page 51.)

May 27, 1861: Acted in the Sergeants Dramatic Club two-act drama production of Talfourd’s of Macbeth Travestie. (Rosse) & (Witch).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 7, June13, 1861. Page 92.)

May 27, 1861: Acted in the Sergeants Dramatic Club production of John Dobbs. (John).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 7, June13, 1861. Page 92.)

June 13 & 17, 1861: Acted in the Sergeants Dramatic Club three-act romantic drama, adapted from Walter Scott’s poem, The Lady of the Lake. (Lady Margaret, mother to Roderick).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 8, September 30, 1861. Page 108.)

November 4, 1861: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of Thomas J. Lynch's two-act drama, The Rose of Ettrick Vale or The Bridal of the Borders. (Guy o' the Gap).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 9, November 13, 1861. Page 125.)

November 4, 1861: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band’s production of The Spectre Bridegroom, or A Ghost in Spite of Himself. (Paul).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 9, November 13, 1861. Page 125.)

February 17, 1862: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of The Omnibus or A Convenient Distance. (Master Tommy Dobbs).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 12, February 28, 1862, page 179/180.)

May 28, 1862: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of a “serio-comic, bombastic, operatic Interlude, in one act" by J.R. Planché, Amoroso, King of Little Britain. (Roastando, Amoroso’s cook).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, Supplementary Number, Keiskama Hoek, August 12, 1862, page 240.)

May 28, 1862: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of a one-act farce, The Omnibus or A Convenient Distance. (Master T Dobbs).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, Supplementary Number, Keiskama Hoek, August 12, 1862, page 240.)

May 28, 1862: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of The Irish Tutor. (Dr Flail, a schoolmaster).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, Supplementary Number, Keiskama Hoek, August 12, 1862, page 240.)

June 5, 1862: Acted again in the Amateurs of the Band production of The Spectre Bridegroom, or A Ghost in Spite of Himself. (Dickery, Squire Aldwinkle’s man).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, Supplementary Number, Keiskama Hoek, August 12, 1862, page 240.)

June 5, 1862: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of the one-act farce, Slasher and Crasher. ((Lieutenant Brown).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, Supplementary Number, Keiskama Hoek, August 12, 1862, page 240.)

June 19, 1862: Acted in the Amateurs of the Band production of a two-act "melo-drama", Robert Macaire, or The Two Murderers of Lyons. (Pierre, head waiter).