Gaiety Theatre
A name given to a number of theatres in the late 18th and early 20th centuries in South Africa.
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The Gaiety Theatre, Johannesburg
A small music-hall theatre in Kort Street, Johannesbrug, opened by Harry Stodel in 1895. Run on the old “Chairman” Music Hall lines, selling beer, whiskey etc on the premises, entrance 1 shilling. The acts were “local but first class”. Round about 1898 he took over Searelle’s Music Hall, and apparently closed the Gaiety.
Sources
See Fletcher, 1994; Kaplan and Robertson, 1991, Stodel, 1962
The Gaiety Theatre of Varieties, Oudtshoorn
Built in the time of the Ostrich feather boom, it housed vaudeville and music hall, but was also used for straight theatre and more serious work. For example in 1913 the Dingaan's Day play Die Hoop van Suid-Afrika by C.J.Langenhoven was done there.
Sources
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