DOCSLIB.ORG

Animals, Acrobats and Amusement: a History of Performance in South Africa’S Circus Industry, C.1882–1963

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Animals, Acrobats and Amusement: a History of Performance in South Africa’S Circus Industry, C.1882–1963 Animals, acrobats and amusement: A history of performance in South Africa’s circus industry, c.1882–1963. by Mia Uys Thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Faculty of History at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Professor Sandra S. Swart March 2021 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Date ……March 2021………………………. Copyright © 2021 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Abstract In South Africa, the circus industry became an important leisure industry in the 1800s and remained a popular form of entertainment until the turn of the twenty-first century, attracting diverse audiences across the country. Yet this industry is a neglected area of historical research. This thesis uses a rich variety of primary sources to debunk the myth of the ‘timeless circus act’, static and uniform. Instead, it demonstrates that this industry has gone through several transformations throughout the history of its existence. It analyses these changes, with particular focus on animal and gender history, by comparing performances between three circus companies that toured South Africa between 1882 and 1963: Fillis’s Circus, Pagel’s Circus and Boswell’s Circus. In doing so, this thesis explores the international influence on performances. This thesis argues that animals were integral to the circus industry, but their roles were mutable and affected by changes in human society. It traces their shifting role in performances across the companies, while also considering their shifting and subjective experiences in captivity. It contends that we can conceive of animals as ‘political performers’ and even as political agents with the ability to exert their agency and effect change. Throughout this thesis, the notion of ‘performing gender’ is analysed by comparing routines, as well as the various audience reactions to examine the ideals of masculinity and femininity reflected in society at the time. Overall, it argues that the significant changes that occurred within animal and gendered performances were a response to the shifting localised public mindsets and political climates, affected in turn by broader global forces. Keywords: South Africa, history, circus, leisure, entertainment, animals, gender, performance i Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Opsomming In Suid-Afrika was die sirkusbedryf vanaf die 1800s ‘n gesogte vermaaksvorm en dit was nog steeds gewild tot in die begin van die 21ste eeu, met diverse gehore dwarsdeur die land. Ten spyte van die gewildheid van die sirkus is daar egter minimale geskiedkundige navorsing beskikbaar oor dié bedryf. Hierdie tesis maak gebruik van ‘n wye verskeidenheid primêre bronne om die mite van ‘n ‘tydlose sirkusbedryf’ as staties en eenvormig te weerlê. In plaas daarvan word daar in hierdie tesis uitgewys dat die sirkusbedryf verskeie veranderinge deur die jare van hul bestaan ondergaan het. Hierdie veranderinge word ontleed deur die vertonings van drie sirkusgroepe met mekaar te vergelyk, met ‘n spesifieke fokus op die geskiedenis van die gebruik van sirkusdiere en die rol wat die geslag van sirkustoneelspelers gespeel het. Die drie sirkusgroepe wat deur Suid-Afrika getoer het tussen 1882 en 1963 was die Fillis-, Pagel- en Boswellsirkusgroepe. Hierdie tesis verken die invloed vanaf die buiteland op die vertonings van die sirkusgroepe. Dit word in hierdie tesis geargumenteer dat diere ‘n integrale deel van die sirkus industrie gevorm het, maar hul rol was afhanklik van en beïnvloed deur veranderings in die menslike samelewing. Die tesis ondersoek die verandelike rol van diere in sirkusvertonings en oorweeg ook diere se verskuiwinde en subjektiewe ondervinding tydens aanhouding en voer aan dat diere selfs beskou kan word as ‘politieke toneelspelers’ en agente van politieke verandering. Deurgaans in die tesis word die idee van ‘geslag in toneelspel’ ook ge-analiseer deur verskeie sirkustoertjies met mekaar te vergelyk asook die reaksie van gehore as maatstaf te gebruik om die persepsie en ideale van manlikheid en vroulikheid wat gedurende hierdie era geheers het, te openbaar. Oorsigtelik dui die tesis aan dat die aansienlike verandering in die gebruik van diere en die rol van geslag in sirkustonele te wyte was aan die verskuiwing in plaaslike sienings en oortuigings rakende die ideale man en vrou, asook die politieke klimaatsverandering wat op sy beurt weer beïnvloed was deur breër wêreldwye druk. Sleutelwoorde/Terme: Suid Afrika, geskiedenis, sirkus, vermaak, diere, geslag, toneelspel. ii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Acknowledgements The arduous and enjoyable task of completing a thesis incurs its own debts to those who have aided its development. First and foremost, I owe a great thanks to Professor Sandra Swart, who bent her ‘no masters student’ rule to take me on, and whose insight into the complexity of multispecies history has provided me with a solid foundation to begin my work. My growth over the past three years is largely due to her immense scope of historical knowledge, her sense of humour, and her patient guidance. Thank you for reminding me about the very important human aspect behind any postgraduate journey. Thank you for believing in me. To my fellow colleagues at HFM, it has been a privilege to listen and learn about your research over the past three years. Thank you for the hours spent together in the postgrad room. Thank you for pushing me to ask better questions. I am eternally grateful for the entire history department at Stellenbosch University who have all have aided my journey in numerous small ways. Thank you to Dr Anton Ehlers, for advising me to ‘sit under a tree and think’ before making this decision. Thank you, Dr Chet Fransch, for your equal measures of kindness and critique. Thank you to the staff at the Cape Town archives, the National Library, and the special collections at Stellenbosch University for your assistance. A huge thank you to Athena, for her patience and flawless editing. Thanks to Amy Wilson, for setting aside time for our interview and for our lively chat about all things animal law. To my parents, thank you for your love and support upon embarking on this degree two years ago with little to no knowledge on what it would entail. Thank you for the 107 days I was able to spend at home during lockdown which afforded me precious time to write and think and be. I am grateful for the other MA students who have walked this journey with me, especially thanks to Lyle, who pretended that rescue remedy would really calm my pre-lecturing nerves, and whose support has been invaluable. To all my dear friends, thank you for always being up to listen to my grievances and to celebrate small victories. Thank you for your advice, encouragement and care over the years. Lastly, thanks to Marco, for everything. iii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Table of Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Opsomming .............................................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ iii Table of Contents .................................................................................................................... iv Abbreviations Used .................................................................................................................. v List of Figures .......................................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................................................... 1 Literature Review and Methodology CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................... 18 A horse and human dyad: The making of the ‘modern-day’ circus and equestrian performances in South Africa, c. 1882–1915 CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................... 48 Big cat acts and big men: Performing power and gender in southern Africa, c.1888–1916 CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................................. 76 Hagenbeck in Africa? South African circus animal acts in the global context, c.1896–1935 CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................................. 104 The agency of attack: ‘Political animals’ and public discontent, c.1940–1959 CHAPTER SIX .................................................................................................................... 135 Conclusion: Committed to a kinder world? SOURCE LIST ....................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • What Is Circus Today? Explorations Through 250 Years of British Circus by Professor Vanessa Toulmin in the Beginning
    What is Circus Today? Explorations through 250 Years of British Circus by Professor Vanessa Toulmin In the Beginning In 1768 a uniquely British invention created from entertainment popular in late Georgian London was born. The innovator was Philip Astley who with his wife Patty, a gifted equestrienne, and his horse Gibraltar, gave riding displays at Glover’s ‘Halfpenny Hatch’ between Neptune and Angel Streets in April 1768. On this site Mr and Mrs Astley developed scenes of horsemanship and later incorporated older forms of entertainment such as acrobatics, performers from the street and clowns to draw the crowds. It was this combination of speciality skills that developed into the circus entertainment we recognise today.1 As we celebrate 250 years from when modern circus combination of performance genres within a ring was created, the narratives and histories that are of a set diameter quickly became global and being revealed, especially in the United Kingdom, by the early nineteenth century circus could be demonstrate the complex and global history of the found in thirteen different countries including the genre that is circus; an evolving language of visual United States in 1793, Canada in 1797, Mexico in and physical performance.2 The Astleys settled at 1802, Russia in 1816. Within the European and Westminster Bridge Road where initially they used an North American traditions evolutions in popular open-air circular arena, then built a partially covered entertainment from the music hall to the menagerie ‘amphitheatre’ styled ‘Astley’s British Riding School‘ tradition of previous centuries played a key part which opened in 1770.
    [Show full text]
  • Razzle Dazzle Reading Circus: a Bibliography of Books in Recorded and Braille Formats for Young Readers from Preschool Through Junior High
    --.DOCUMENT RESUME ED 373 790 IR 055 150 AUTHOR Sumner, Mary Ann, Comp. TITLE Razzle Dazzle Reading Circus: A Bibliography of Books in Recorded and Braille Formats for Young Readers from Preschool through Junior High. Silver Summer Scrapbook--Summer Library Program, 1993. INSTITUTION Florida State Dept. of Education, Tallahassee. Div. of Blind Services. PUB DATE 15 Mar 93 NOTE 2 7ompiled in conjunction with the 1993 Florida Summer Library Program (see ED 360 990). For related bibliographies, see IR 055 149-155. AVAILABLE FROMFlorida Department of Education, Division of Blind i Services, Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services, 420 Platt St., Daytona Beach, FL 32114-2804 (free; availab.e in large print, cassette, and braille formats). PUB TYPE Reference Materials Bibliographies (131) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Adolescent Literature; Annotated Bibliographies; *Braille; *Childrens Literature; Elementary Education; Fiction; Media Adaptation; Preschool Education; Reading Materials; State Libraries; Summer Programs; *Talking Books; Visual Impairments IDENTIFIERS *Circuses; Florida ABSTRACT This annotated bibliography comprises an alphabetical listing of 34 books on circuses available in special formats. The list has books about true circus stories; make believe stories; and circus animals. The reading levels of the books range from preschool through junior high school. Formats included in the bibliography are cassette books; braille books; and recorded discs. Each entry contains author (if available); title; annotation; and grade level. Also included are a title index and an order form. (JLB) ********::******AA.*I.********;;****i,---********************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** Razz eleazzlie L°J Reading CircuS U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • SERIOUS Play Modern Clown Performance 00 Play
    PEACOCK SERIOUSplay Modern Clown Performance Louise Peacock SERIOUS Clowns’ slapstick is their primary mode of performance and allows them to provoke audiences to laughter wherever they perform. This innovative book, focusing on contemporary practice in the USA and Europe over the last 50 years, investigates the nature and function of clown performance in modern society. Through analysis of clowning in a range of settings – theatre, the circus, hospitals, refugee camps and churches – Peacock establishes a theoretical framework for the evaluation of physical comedy. Play Peacock explores clowning that takes place outside of conventional venues, and also the therapeutic potential of clowning in clown doctor organisations, refugee camps and war zones. Serious Play: Modern Clown Performance Modern Clown Performance is the first book of its kind to consider clowning performance venues and performance styles in the light of Play Theory, including comparisons of traditional clown SERIOUS comedy with contemporary circuses such as Circus Oz and Cirque du Soleil, and an in-depth look at famous clowns such as Nola Rae, Angela De Castro and Slava Polunin. play About the author Louise Peacock is a lecturer in Drama at the University of Hull. ISBN 978-1-84150-241-0 00 Modern Clown Performance 9 781841 502410 Louise Peacock intellect | www.intellectbooks.com Serious Play Modern Clown Performance Dedication For my Mum Who was always ready to watch clowns with me In memory Serious Play Modern Clown Performance Louise Peacock ^ciZaaZXi7g^hida!J@8]^XV\d!JH6 First published in the UK in 2009 by Intellect Books, The Mill, Parnall Road, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 3JG, UK First published in the USA in 2009 by Intellect Books, The University of Chicago Press, 1427 E.
    [Show full text]
  • Embodying the Animal: Questioning Human Identity in Literature and Circus
    Wesleyan University The Honors College Embodying the Animal: Questioning Human Identity in Literature and Circus by Emily Kate Vallillo Class of 2009 A thesis submitted to the faculty of Wesleyan University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors from the College of Letters Middletown, Connecticut April, 2009 Vallillo 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements………………………………………………..3 Introduction………………………………………………………..4 Chapter One Imaginative Embodiment in Literature……………….………....16 Red Peter…………………………..………………………….18 Enkidu and Gregor…………………………..……………..…20 The Churl and Gregor…………………………..………….…27 The Prisoner and the Hunger Artist………………………..…35 Chapter Two Physical Embodiment in Circus……………………………..……44 Roman Circus……………………………………………….…46 Traditional Circus…………………………………………..…50 Cirque du Soleil……………………………………………..…59 Conclusion….……………………………………………………..70 Notes……………………………………………………………....74 Works Cited………………………………………………………..75 Appendix …………………………………………………….……81 Vallillo 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To my family: For always supporting me, particularly my parents. To Lunchbox: For being the most warm, funny, and accepting group of people. To Kailie Larkin, Dylan Marron, and Jo Firestone: For a loving library visit. To those who went through it with me: Gedney Barclay, Sean Chin, Miriam Krent, Annie Paladino, Abbey Rosenstein, and my COL class. To my editors: Chris Patalano, Julia Milton, Mark McCloughan, Annie Paladino, Ben Vigus, and particularly Carol Scott, who all went above and beyond to help me improve my writing. To Ben Vigus: For endlessly supporting me even when I didn’t deserve it. To Erika Rundle: For giving me the language with which to express my ideas. To Claudia Tatinge Nascimento: For introducing me to performance studies, inspiring me to write about the circus, and reading my thesis. To Kari Weil: For offering so much help and advice in a field in which she is incredibly knowledgeable and reading my thesis.
    [Show full text]
  • Apollon from Edmond Desbonnets Les Rois De La Force (The Kings Of
    IRON GAME HISTORY VOLUME 4 NUMBERS 5 & 6 APOLLONAPOLLON From Edmond Desbonnet’s Les Rois de la Force [The Kings of Strength] Paris: Librairie Berger-Levrault, 1911 Translated and Introduced by DAVID CHAPMAN Ed Note: As readers of IGH know, David Chapman has undertaken the task of translating Edmond Desbonnet’s Les Rois de la Force [The Kings of Strength], one of the classic texts on the history of the Iron Game. We are deeply grateful to David for shar- ing his labor of love with us, and with all of our readers. “Certain people,” Edmond Desbonnet reflected in later life, his earliest childhood. As the accounts in The Kings of Strength “are born painters, poets, or musicians; others are warriors, brigands attest, young Edmond had a nearly photographic memory when it or orators. I was born a professor of physical culture.”1 If we are to came to these idols of strength that he had worshiped in his youth. It believe his pronouncements, there was never any doubt in his mind was not until he reached the ripe old age of twenty-one, however, that that he would devote his life to the “regeneration of the French race” he was able to attend a performance that galvanized him as never through the medium of physical exercise. Desbonnet had always before. It was then that he first witnessed Apollon. been attracted to muscular strength and physical beauty, and thus it Just as Desbonnet had been born a professor of physical was only natural that he would later become one of Europe’s most culture, Louis Uni had been born a strongman.
    [Show full text]
  • 5 Years of Performance
    5 YEARS OF PERFORMANCE A CELEBRATION OF THE FIRST YEARS IN PERFORMANCE AT NEUMEISTER, STOCKHOLM. What young boy hasn’t dreamt of just packing his bags and running off to IT’S MY PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE… join a design agency? That was exactly what Peter Neumeister did once upon a time. Here was an adventurous and cosmopolitan world that whisked him far away from the sleepy, little, Swedish town of Staffanstorp. Magnificent and exciting, always filled with that extra special something. But when you've been in the business a while and learned the trade: sooner or later you want a show of your own… When that moment arrives, you need to create a performance that breaks new ground, an extravaganza that treats the crowd to something a little out of the ordinary. And just like in the world of the circus, if you want to be the ringmaster of a truly great show — every single act has to have an excellence that’s worth every cent of the ticket. Finding these skills takes time. Building up a programme where everything will work smoothly together is an even tougher task. If you’ve visited a circus late at night, after the last performance, you’ll understand. The passion in the big ring often becomes frustration at the late night card game. Such is the nature of great ambition. But you have to keep on struggling, being creative and never giving in to indolence. Or even worse — routine: every act’s worst enemy. Something that the legendary Lillian Leitzel, “The Queen of the Circus”, bitterly learned, back in the early 30s, when she fell from the trapeze during a routine she had performed at least a thousand times.
    [Show full text]
  • Swing Into Summer With
    Summer Programs Tiverton, RI 02878 752 East Rd. Center Learning Early Sakonnet Ages: 18 months through 3 yrs. old MONDAY-FRIDAY · Full Day: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm · Half Day: 7:30 am - 12:30 pm · Begins: June 28, 2021 · Ends: September 3, 2021 *You may register for two or more days per week. Closed: July 5th, August 9th & September 2nd SWING INTO Summer Rates SUMMER WITH SELC Half Day Rate: $46 (7:30 am – 12:30 pm) All Day Rate: $58 per day Weekly Rate: $265 (Mon.-Fri.) Registration Fee: $75 new enrollees Sunscreen Fee: $10 per season *Please feel free to contact us with questions. TODDLER PROGRAM Horses and Clowns and Tents...oh my! Wet & Wild Wednesdays Coming this summer, daring On hot days, it’s a great and brave Toddlers! Watch as way to cool off, but there Our Summer program blends fun, adventure, they try new things, investigate is much more to water creativity and learning. SELC is a place for new topics and explore their sur- play! It provides hours of children to learn, grow, and thrive in positive roundings. They begin their sum- rich and valuable experi- and unique ways that will change their young mer of adventures on the farm. There they will meet ences to develop chil- lives forever. The Summer program focuses on Old McDonald and all of his animal friends. Our dren’s creativity and imag- science and nature, arts and crafts, literature friendly farm hands will strengthen their knowledge ination. It is both enjoya- and language, music and movement, sports and of living things by learning about what these ani- ble and educational.
    [Show full text]
  • IA Argosy-V-108N-02-1919
    and Railroad Man’s Magazine Issued Weekly Sword AND Anvil Jby George FoxhaU $400 A COPY A YEAR The only way you can discharge an Iver Johnson is to pull the trigger all the way back You often read of tragedies caused by the accidental discharge of revolvers. Per¬ haps this is why you haven’t a revolver in your home. Do you know that an accident is im¬ possible with an Iver Johnson? The only way you can discharge it is to pull the trigger all the way back. Three Booklets IVER JOHNSON FREE —the Only safe revolver for the home. There is nothing to fear from an Iver Johnson for the man or woman who owns it. Its safety is automatic and sure. There are no levers to adjust or forget to adjust. It simply can’t go off unless you want it to. Hammer You can even “hammer the hammer” without dis¬ charging an Iver Johnson Revolver. Iver Johnson Revolvers embody the simplest, Hammer safest principles of mechanism and construction. No flat springs in an Iver Johnson—all springs are made of the finest piano wire, drawn tempered— they will last a lifetime. And the perfect rifling of the barrel means straight shooting. The Iver Johnson shown here has the "Western” Walnut Grip. Other models have “Perfect” Rubber and Regular Grips. IVER JOHNSON’S ARMS & CYCLE WORKS 140 River Street, Fitchburg, Massachusetts 99Chambers St., New York 717 Market St.,San Francisco ADVERTISING SECTION. 'YbuCanTake Hills on Hioh Without A Knock If you will keep your motor free from carbon.
    [Show full text]
  • ROBERT BAUDY with Two of His Yearling Clouded Leopards. The
    L.I.O.C. Endangered Species Conservation Federation Inc. Volume 35, Number 1 January/February, 1991 ROBERT BAUDY with two of his yearling clouded leopards. The Culvers visited the Baudy compound along with two others on a recent trip to Florida - Bart writes about it on page 11. This newsletter is published bi-monthly by the LIOC Endanqered Species Conservation Feder- ation, Inc. We are a non-profit (Federal I.D.# 58-9100616)), non-commercial organization, international in membership, devoted to the welfare of exotic felines. The purpose of this newsletter is to wres ent information about exotic feline conservation, management, and ownership to our members. Th material printed in this newsletter is contributed by our members and in many cases, reflects the point of view of the person whose name appears on the article, rather than the point of view of the orqanization. The organization's statment of intent is contained in our by-laws; a cony of which can be requested from the Secretary/ Treasurer. Reproduction of the material in this newsletter may not be made without written permission of the authors and/or copyriqht owner LIOC. Since the newsletter consists of articles, photos and artwork contributed by our members, we depend on you for our material. We can only publish what you send us. Articles of all types concerninq exotic felines are gladly accepted. We also have a Reader's Write column for letters or responses to articles. Please send all materials for contribution to the Newsletter editor. Editor: Shirley Wagner, 3730 Belle Isle Lane E., Mobile, Al.
    [Show full text]
  • National Fairground Archive Acquisitions & Disposals Draft
    National Fairground and Circus Archive Acquisitions & Disposals Policy 1. Introduction Page 3 2. Mission Statement Page 3 3. Historical Context Page 4 4. Collecting Remit Page 5 4.1 Historical Time Frame Page 5 4.2 Geographical Location Page 5 4.3 Subject Matter Page 6 4.3.1 Fairs and Fairgrounds Page 6 4.3.1.1 Transportation Page 6 4.3.1.2 Architectural Landscape Page 7 4.3.1.3 Fairground Rides and Fairground Art Page 7 4.3.1.4 Showpeople Page 7 4.3.1.5 Sideshows and Travelling Exhibitions Page 7 4.3.1.6 Travelling cinematograph shows Page 8 4.3.1.7 Magic and Illusion Page 8 4.3.1.8 Travelling Boxing Booths Page 8 4.3.1.9 Fairground Organ Preservation Society Page 9 4.3.2 Circus Page 9 4.3.2.1 Wild West Page 10 4.3.2.2 Menageries Page 10 4.3.2.3 Circus Performers Page 10 4.3.3 Variety and Music Hall Page 10 4.3.4 Pleasure Gardens and Zoological Gardens Page 11 4.3.5 Seaside Entertainment, Amusement Parks and Theme Parks Page 11 4.3.6 Early Film and Optical Illusion Page 11 4.3.7 World Fairs and Expositions Page 11 4.3.8 Americana Page 12 4.3.9 Living Archive Page 12 4.4 The NFCA does not Collect Page 12 4.4.1 Gipsy and Travelling Groups History Page 12 4.4.2 Post 1914 Cinema Page 12 4.4.3 Modern and Contemporary Magic Page 12 4.4.4 Exceptions to Audio Material: Fields Sound Recordings and Fairground Music Page 13 4.4.5 General Transport and Agricultural Material Page 13 4.4.6 3D Objects Page 13 4.4.7 Dissociated Material and Surrogate Copies Page 13 National Fairground and Circus Archive, University of Sheffield Library Page 1 4.5 Format Page 13 4.5.1 Photographs and Digital Images Page 13 4.5.2 Audio and Visual Material Page 14 4.5.3 Printed Material Page 15 4.5.3.1 Posters, Handbills, Programmes, Proclamations and Advertising Material Page 15 4.5.3.2 Books and Pamphlets Page 15 4.5.3.3 Magazines and Periodicals Page 15 4.5.3.4 Calendars and Almanacs Page 18 4.5.3.5 Postcards Page 18 4.5.4 Personal and Business Records Page 19 4.5.5 Others Page 19 4.5.5.1 Maps, Plans and Blueprints Page 19 4.5.5.2 Original Artwork Page 19 4.5.5.3 Miscellaneous Page 19 5.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 the Fitzgerald Brothers' Circus
    The Fitzgerald Brothers’ Circus: Considering Circus Entertainments in Late Colonial New Zealand From the 1850s through to the 1870s the discovery of gold around the Pacific Rim at various sites in California, New Zealand, and the eastern colonies of Australia, gave rise to an itinerant performance culture which induced an assortment of troupes to travel in the wake of the moving labour force of miners and camp followers. Historical accounts of the circus in colonial Australia have shown that out of the itinerant circus troupes that provided entertainment to gold rush settlements, the genre developed to become, arguably, the most popular form of entertainment throughout the colonies of Australasia during the latter years of the nineteenth and early years of the twentieth-centuries.i To date, a broad historical retrieval of the circus in New Zealand has yet to be undertaken. Consideration of the cultural recreations of colonial New Zealand society has tended to relegate circus to a subset of entertainments termed gold rush culture, a grouping which includes opera, vaudeville, theatre and circus shows. However, my study of the vibrant, internationalist, and prolific entertainments presented in New Zealand by the Fitzgerald Brothers’ Circus in the years 1887-1904, from which this essay is derived, challenges the historic relegation of circus to the frontier settlements or to the periphery of colonial society. The FitzGeralds were part of a group of elite entertainment organizations that employed advanced marketing and management strategies to entrepreneur major tours of the colony in this period. This essay aims, in some measure, to reclaim the position circus entertainment acquired in the cultural fabric of late colonial life, and in the cultural imaginary of the public of New Zealand during this era.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Zine
    FREE ZINE Sexy intimate stories of becoming, persistence and survival. Critiquing work, asking questions about HOW and WHY. Elder histories, lion taming, transnational travels, migration stories. All Cats Are Beautiful. How we get by! Who gets to be respectable? Pride and prejudice. Tickets to the straight world, transactions along the way. Stretching the rubber band of gender. Being who we ARE. COMING TOGETHER. an extravaganza of resistance... ABOUT RESILIENT & RESISTING Resilient & Resisting is a collaboration between groups and individuals, with artist/activist Jet Moon, produced with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arcola Participation. Fierce, intimate oral histories, collaborative stories, D.I.Y. research and interviews from people at the intersection of several kinds of marginalisation. Find us online at resilientandresisting.org Arcola Participation is Arcola’s community, talent development, youth and programme. We are committed to challenging assumptions around who theatre belongs to and who has a right to speak, while providing opportunities to learn, train and perform under the guidance of world-class artists. We aim to deliver high quality productions that resonate both locally and globally, whilst maintaining Arcola’s welcoming and inclusive ethos. Produced with support from Arcola Participation CONTENTS 2. INTRODUCTION the stories 3. DECRIM - PROTEST SONG 4. IN THE CIRCUS 6. INTIMATE PLEASURE 8. LIVERISH 10. NURSERY RHYME 12. TRIBE 14. BOUDICA 16. A LIONESS 18. (there is no) WHY? 20. PERFECTLY CONTAINED 22. THIRD SECTOR 23. THE TYGERS OF WRATH - SONG CHORUS 24. ABOUT THE THE PROJECT This event is a collaboration between a variety of groups and Resilient and Resisting. COME TOGETHER AN EXTRAVAGANZA OF RESISTANCE Resilient and Resisting’s day long take over at Arcola theatre.
    [Show full text]