Grahamstown Theatrical Amateur Company
Grahamstown 1837 – 1850. English-language amateur dramatic society founded in Grahamstown on 23 May 1837. Used the motto Consacre a la Bienfaisance, Honi Soit qui Mal y Pense (= "Dedicated to charity, Evil to him who evil thinks").
Based at the Commercial Hall between 1837 and 1848, the company was at one stage so popular that the construction of its own theatre was considered in 1841. However, After financial setbacks, the Theatre Royal at Styles' Hotel, New Street became the company's headquarters from 1848 till 1850. Having briefly joined forces with the Victoria Circus in 1849, the Company resumed work on their own again in 1850. War from 1850-1853 halted further theatrical activity. Frederick Timpson l'Ons, a well known artiist, designed and painted scenery for the company's productions in both venues. First performance: Sheridan's The Rivals and the burlesque Bombastes Furioso by William Barnes Rhodes, Dec 1837. Kaatjie Kekkelbek (Bain and George Rex) was put on in 1838, which saw the first use of the Afrikaans on stage.
Sources
Fletcher, J. 1994 ; Kirby, 1962; Du Toit, 1988. [NELM, JH]
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