Valentine and Orson

A romantic melodrama by Thomas John Dibdin (1771-1841), based on the medieval romance of Valentine and Orson, which has been attached to the Carolingian cycle, and has been adapted and re-written in most European languages in some form or another.

The 1804 Dibdin staqe version, published by Barker in London, is described as follows: "Valentine and Orson, a romantic melodrame, as performed at the Theatre-Royal Govent-Garden. Written by T. Dibdin. And produced under the direction of Mr. Farley. The overture and music by Mr. Jouve (1804)"

Performance history in South Africa

Done in 1818 by the Gentlemen Amateurs with the help of Mr Cooke and his company of ladies, in the African Theatre, Cape Town on 11 July (with Wild Oats by O'Keeffe) and a new Dance solo by Mr E. Garoute