All the World's a Stage

There are two entries with this title,

(1) A stage play by Isaac Jackman

(2) A 19th century theatrical company in Cape Town

All the World's a Stage, a stage play by Isaac Jackman

A farce in two acts, in prose, it was first performed at the Drury Lane in 1777, and became very popular. Also printed in 1777 then reprinted in John Bell's British Theatre and other collections.

Performance history in South Africa

1807: Performed in the African Theatre, Cape Town by the Officers of the Garrison on Saturday 12 September, with The Upholsterer (Murphy). Players included Captain Collins, Mr Morgan, Captain Frazer, Mr Longley, Mr Stuart, Mr Napier.

1808: Performed in the African Theatre, Cape Town by the Officers of the Garrison on Saturday 16 July, with The Padlock (Bickerstaffe), as a Benefit Performance for the Widows and Orphans of the 24th Regiment.

1809: Performed in the African Theatre, Cape Town by the Officers of the Garrison on Tuesday 31 January, with Raising the Wind (Kenney). The performance as a benefit for the "under-officers and soldiers who, without any recompense, had helped in the theatre for the past two season". (Bosman, 1928: p 77)

1811: Performed in the African Theatre, Cape Town by the Garrison Players on 15 June, with The Citizen (Murphy).

1823: Performed in the African Theatre, Cape Town by the amateur company English Theatricals on 20 December, with Rob Roy (Scott/Pocock).

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Jackman

F.C.L. Bosman, 1928: pp. 73-77, 142, 198.

Fletcher, 1994 p. 40

Go to ESAT Bibliography

All the World's a Stage: The Theatrical Company

An English amateur theatre company in the Cape, 1807-1820s, 1829-1834 and 1843-1848.

Origins and first phase: 1807-1820s

Originally a project of military officers, the amateur performers in the Cape Town garrison formed themselves into an informal company, led by Captain Frazer, Captain Collins, and other colleagues, in 1807, initially performing in the Cape Town Barracks, later in the African Theatre - where the curtain carried the motto "All the World's a Stage". As the English theatrical activities expanded, a strong local contingent of non-military performers (including women) also joined and a company of amateurs arose, performing under that motto, particularly as Isaac Jackman's play by that name was a favourite of the company (see above). Gradually the company of amateurs was itself being referred to as All the World's a Stage in newspapers and advertisements. They performed regularly every year, but went in to decline during the 1820s.

For their productions, see Barracks Theatre, Garrison Players and Garrison Theatre

Revival by H. Booth and second phase: 1829-1834

The company was apparently revived with the arrival in Cape Town of Mr H. Booth, a professional from England, who in 1829 gathered the various amateur groups (the Garrison Players, the English Theatrical Amateur Company and the Cape Town Amateur Company) in Cape town around him to perform a series of standard works. In March 1830 Booth announced in a new company, the British Amateur Company, playing under the motto of "All the World's a Stage", from 1830 onwards, and thus reviving the name. They performed under Booth's leadership in 1830, and then struggled to continue, but kept going without him and lasted until 1834.

PRODUCTIONS with BOOTH: 1829-30

Pizarro, or The Death of Rolla (Sheridan)

Black-Eyed Susan, or All in the Downs (Jerrold)

Othello, or The Moor of Venice (Shakespeare)

The Wags of Windsor (Colman)

PRODUCTIONS: After 1930

A Cure for the Heartache (Morton),

Raising the Wind (Kenney),

The Castle Spectre (Macready),

Second revival and third phase: 1843-1848

In 1843, after the relaxation of the anti-theatrical position of the dominant Methodist church, the company was revived. In 1845 they used the previously exclusively Dutch venue, the Roeland Street Theatre, but in 1846 returned to what was now known as the Victoria Theatre in Hope Street until 1848, after which they were disbanded. [TH, JH]

PRODUCTIONS: 1845-1848

1845: Performed The Wandering Boys, or The Castle of Olival (Pixérécourt) in the Roeland Street Theatre, Cape Town on 17 July with The Queer Subject (Coyne) as afterpiece.

1846: Performed The Brigand (Planché) 9 July, as the opening production in the newly re-opened Hope Street Theatre, now known as the Victoria Theatre, followed by A Day After the Fair (Somerset).

1846: Probably performed The Brigand (Planché) on Saturday 4 September , in the Victoria Theatre, followed by The Original (Morton) and The Lottery Ticket, or the Lawyer's Clerk (Beazley).

1846: Performed The Brigand (Planché) on special request during the annual Race Week on Saturday 12 September , in the Victoria Theatre, following on Who's Who? or The Double Imposture (Poole).

Sources

Laidler, 1926;

F.C.L. Bosman, 1928[1]: pp. 69-78;

Fletcher, 1994;

Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography

Return to

Return to A in Plays II Foreign Plays

Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays

Return to South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page