Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society

Author's Comment:

Theatre in Port Elizabeth is believed to have started with the production of Hamlet at Fort Frederick 1799. However, owing to the absence of a local newspaper prior to 1845, information regarding any earlier productions is very scarce and hard to find. After the Eastern Province Herald was founded, adverts and articles were published which now give us a better idea of the pioneering years.

Unfortunately, there are a number of publications which do not have the correct facts either because the author did not have access to the newspapers or clippings, relied on other unverified sources or simply made unfounded assumptions.

Whatever the reason, ESAT is attempting to correct these mistakes by inputting information from original sources such as newspapers, pamphlets and programmes.

Should you have any information which will add to our collective knowledge of early theatre, please contact us. Details can be found at: [[1]].

Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society

The Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society is the first documented amateur dramatic society in Port Elizabeth and was founded on April 10, 1840.

Their theatre, The Lyceum, was situated in an old warehouse in Staines Street. The building was fitted out with the rudiments of a theatre. In May 1856, the Lyceum building was re-opened after being refurbished with improvements including a dress circle with velvet cushions. The Society continued productions up to 1858 when the building was sold and the Society dissolved.

Their performances

Scenes from Shakespeare and popular classics, including a few locally written works were staged.

On August 26, 1853, the society presented She Stoops to Conquer (Goldsmith) and Did you ever send your wife to Camberwell? (Coyne), playing two nights.

On October 22, 1853, they did selections of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, followed by The Spare Bed (Fox Cooper), and An Unwarrantable Intrusion ( Morton).

On July 7, 1854, they performed the The Road to Ruin (Holcroft), and The Thumping Legacy (Morton).

In 1855 they performed The Rivals (Sheridan) in the new Port Elizabeth Theatre in August, with The Fast Train (Anon.), assisted by the Port Elizabeth Amateur Musical Society.

[TH]

The Commercial Hall

After the construction of the Commercial Hall in 1843, the Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society staged some performances there.

Charles Inman's theatre

On May 17, 1849, J Russell fitted out a building in Strand Street belonging to Charles Inman and used it as a theatre. Grace Huntley, a domestic melodrama, was the first production staged. In July 1849, Inman took over the management of the theatre.

On June 6, 1862, Monsieur H Olivier announced the first performance of the Olympic Circus De Paris in Strand Street. During the show “grand scenes in the circle” were produced including “daring and graceful acts of horsemanship” and “various other amusements”. A “monster circus” was erected specially for him and was capable of holding 2 000 patrons. A band was in attendance. (Comment: This information has been placed under Charles Inman simply because both were in Strand Street. However, it is unknown if there was any connection to his theatre.)

Port Elizabeth Amateur Theatrical Society

September 22, 1847: The first performance by the Port Elizabeth Amateur Theatrical Society was given in the Commercial Hall. Contrary to some sources, we believe this was not simply a name change from Port Elizabeth Dramatic Society, but a new organisation. Their initial performance was the tragedy play Ion by Sergeant Talford was staged as well as a performance of The Queer Subject ("queer" as in "shady"). The Queer Subject was a one-act farce written by J S Coyne and was performed for the first time at the Royal Adelphi Theatre, London, in November 1835. Characters in the production included Dr Bingo, Charles, Bill Mattock, Ned Snatch, Sammy Spectre, Tom Darking, countrymen and Julia.

PAGE STILL UNDER REVISION:

In the 1860s a new company, called the Port Elizabeth Dramatic Club, became active in the town.

Sources

Port Elizabeth, A social chronicle to the end of 1945. by Margaret Harradine.

F.C.L. Bosman. 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [2]: pp. 421, 508

"Port Elizabeth Theatre", in the Cape Monitor, 10 September, 1853, 8 August, 1855 and 24 September 1856.

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: pp79-80.

P.W. Laidler. 1926. The Annals of the Cape Stage. Edinburgh: William Bryce: p.

J.J. Redgrave. 1947. Port Elizabeth in Bygone Days. Wynberg: Rustica Press. (Comment: Some of the facts in this book have been called into question.)

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

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

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page