Difference between revisions of "King William's Town Theatre"

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The [[King William's Town Theatre]] (or [[Kingwilliamstown Theatre]] in some sources) is a venue in the Eastern Cape Town of King William's Town[].
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The [[King William's Town Theatre]] (or [[Kingwilliamstown Theatre]] or [[King Williamstown Theatre]] in some sources) seems to be the  name given to two or more venues in the Eastern Cape Town of [[King William's Town]][].  
  
[[Victoria Drill Hall]] is a venue in the Eastern Cape Town of King William's Town[].
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References a performance space of this name occurs over the years, particularly in the mid 19th century, probably done by members of the garrisons stationed there, local amateurs and touring theatre companies.  
  
The hall, designed  was built by to commemorate Victoria's 60 years as sovereign  and the foundation stone was laid 22 June 1887.  
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Please note there are two other variant spellings for the name of the town, i.e. '''[[Kingwilliamstown]]''' and '''[[King Williamstown]]''' found in some sources.  
  
A typical Victorian building with neo-classical features was designed by the architect J. Laughton  and built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s sixtieth birthday.
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== Early history ==
  
The hall still exists,  retaining a military air, having been used by the Amatola Commando until 2007,  when the South African Police Services took over control of the building. The Drill Hall was declared a Provincial Heritage Site in 1980.  
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It seems that the first such venue mentioned (in the late 1850s early 1860s) may have been a small and temporary space, built or fitted up for theatrical performances.  
  
It was presumably used as a performance space over the years, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, by members of the garrisons stationed there, local amateurs and touring theatre companies.  
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For example [[F.C.L. Bosman]] (1980, pp 182 ff.) mentions performances by the [[King William's Town Dramatic Club]] in 23 and 24 May, 1861, and by [[Sefton Parry]] in 1862, though not providing much detail.
  
See also '''[[King William's Town Dramatic Club]]''' and the '''[[Victoria Drill Hall]]'''.
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==The new structure==
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In 1896, the same year [[Mark Twain]] performed his ''[[At Home]]'' there (June 1896), a new venue also referred to as [[King William's Town Theatre]] was opened in the town. However this may in fact simply be a reference to the [[Town Hall]] in King William's Town ([[King William’s Town Town Hall]], built in 1869) or the [[Victoria Drill Hall]] (erected 1889).
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The [[King William's Town Theatre]] was most probably used by the [[King William’s Town Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society]] for its productions over the years. 
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''See also the  '''[[King William’s Town Town Hall]]''' and the '''[[Victoria Drill Hall]]'''''.  
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[TH]
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
  
https://www.artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/bldgframes.php?bldgid=8560
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[[Ludwig Wilhelm  Berthold Binge]]. 1969. ''Ontwikkeling van die Afrikaanse toneel (1832-1950)''. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.
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[[D.C. Boonzaier]], 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage",  in ''SA Review'', 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in [[F.C.L. Bosman|Bosman]] 1980: pp. 374-439.)
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[[F.C.L. Bosman]], 1928. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika'', Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: [[J.H. de Bussy]]. [http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/bosm012dram01_01/]: pp.
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[[F.C.L. Bosman]], 1980. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916''. Pretoria: [[J.L. van Schaik]]: pp.
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[[P.J. du Toit]], 1988. ''Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika''. Pretoria: Academica
  
Website of the [[South African Heritage Resources Agency]] ([[SAHRA]])[https://sahris.sahra.org.za/node/31935]
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[[Jill Fletcher]]. 1994. ''The Story of Theatre in South Africa: A Guide to its History from 1780-1930''. Cape Town: Vlaeberg.
  
http://www.bctourism.co.za/category.php?category=15
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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==
  
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Return to [[ESAT Venues K]]
  
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Venues|South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc ]]
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Venues|South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc ]]

Latest revision as of 11:32, 5 June 2020

The King William's Town Theatre (or Kingwilliamstown Theatre or King Williamstown Theatre in some sources) seems to be the name given to two or more venues in the Eastern Cape Town of King William's Town[].

References a performance space of this name occurs over the years, particularly in the mid 19th century, probably done by members of the garrisons stationed there, local amateurs and touring theatre companies.

Please note there are two other variant spellings for the name of the town, i.e. Kingwilliamstown and King Williamstown found in some sources.

Early history

It seems that the first such venue mentioned (in the late 1850s early 1860s) may have been a small and temporary space, built or fitted up for theatrical performances.

For example F.C.L. Bosman (1980, pp 182 ff.) mentions performances by the King William's Town Dramatic Club in 23 and 24 May, 1861, and by Sefton Parry in 1862, though not providing much detail.

The new structure

In 1896, the same year Mark Twain performed his At Home there (June 1896), a new venue also referred to as King William's Town Theatre was opened in the town. However this may in fact simply be a reference to the Town Hall in King William's Town (King William’s Town Town Hall, built in 1869) or the Victoria Drill Hall (erected 1889).

The King William's Town Theatre was most probably used by the King William’s Town Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society for its productions over the years.


See also the King William’s Town Town Hall and the Victoria Drill Hall.

[TH]

Sources

Ludwig Wilhelm Berthold Binge. 1969. Ontwikkeling van die Afrikaanse toneel (1832-1950). Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [1]: pp.

F.C.L. Bosman, 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.

P.J. du Toit, 1988. Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika. Pretoria: Academica

Jill Fletcher. 1994. The Story of Theatre in South Africa: A Guide to its History from 1780-1930. Cape Town: Vlaeberg.

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