Nineteenth Century
1800AD Dr Somers utilizes the Barracks Theatre, opening with Taste by Foote. A petition for a subscription public theatre from townspeople (Dutch and English). The African Theatre planned and building commences. Sir George Yonge launches Cape Town Gazette and Kaapsche Stads Courant and “The Society for the Encouragement of Agriculture, Arts and Sciences”. 1801AD The African Theatre opens in Cape Town with a production of Henry IV. Lady Anne Barnard writes “first review” in her letters. Sir George Yonge recalled to England to faces charges. 1802AD End of third border war 1803AD De Papegay by Kotzebue performed by Dutch Amateurs in Cape Town, and Voltaire’s Zaire also performed. First appearances by Charles Villet. “Tot Nut van’t Algemeen”, an Arts and Sciences Society founded in Cape Town. Cape reverts to Dutch rule (Batavian period) with De Mist as Commisioner General and Janssens as Governor. British occupy Delhi, but retain puppet Mughal emperors. 1804AD Pit added to the African Theatre. 1805AD Mohammed Ali becomes undisputed ruler of Egypt. 1806AD Kleist’s The Broken Jug Charles Boniface arrives in Cape Town General Janssens capitulates to British , who re-occupy the Cape 1807 AD Captain Frazer arrives in the Cape with the occupying forces and revitalizes the Garrison theatricals. “All the World’s a Stage” founded by Frazer and co. and perform She Stoops to Conquer in the African Theatre. The “French Theatre” erected in J.H.Berg’s store in Berg Street. 1808AD Dutch/French “Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense” founded under Boniface’s leadership. (?) 1809 AD “Tot Nut en Vermaak” founded in Cape Town 1810 AD 1811 AD First appearance of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. 1812 AD 1813 AD Het Beleg en Namen van Troyen a ballet-pantomime by C.E. Boniface produced at the African Theatre. 1814 AD Thomas Sheridan, son of the playwright, arrives in Cape Town as colonial treasurer. Sir Charles Somerset appointed governor. 1815AD Gas installed in Covent Garden Wild Oats performed in Cape Town and Simon’s Town, with an occasional address written and spoken by Thomas Sheridan.
1887AD
Luscombe Searelle begins his theatrical activities The rederykerskamer called Aurora ceases its activities for the duration fo Anglo-Boer War hostilities. The Nederlandsche Zuid-Afrikaansche Spoorwegmaatschappij is created to build a railway from Komatipoort to Johannesburg and Pretoria. 8 November 1887 - The Johannesburg Stock Exchange in established. Britain annexes Zululand, blocking the Transvaal’s attempts to find a route to the sea.
Strindberg writes The Father and publishes Miss Julie. André Antoine opens Théâtre Libre in Paris. First Colonial Conference in London. Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. Esperanto devised by Lazarus Zamenhof In Warsaw. Electricity introduced in Japan. Edison invents the motor driven phonograph, using wx cylinders.
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