Programming Britishness: The Royal Carl Rosa Opera Company’s 1937 Tour of South Africa

Abstract This article provides a snapshot of the Royal Carl Rosa Opera Company’s ‘Coronation’ tour in 1937, focusing particularly on the company’s time in Johannesburg. It considers the Carl Rosa’s tour as a ‘cultural colonisation’ endeavour on the part of the British Empire, aimed at reinforcing identity politics at a time when loyalty to the Empire was waning. The article examines the significance of the Carl Rosa’s tour within the broader context of British colonial relations and the Coronation celebrations of George VI in the Union. Central to its argument is the analysis of the tour’s commemorative programme, published by African Consolidated Theatres (ACT), which serves as a lens to understand the articulation of Dominion South Africanism amongst English-speaking audiences. Through an examination of primary sources and historical context, this article sheds light on the complexities of imperial encounters and the role of cultural exchange in perpetuating colonial power dynamics.