Arthur Bourchier

(1863 – 1927) English actor and theatre manager. Noted for roles both in classical drama, particularly Shakespeare, and in contemporary plays, including works by W. S. Gilbert, Anthony Hope, Arthur Wing Pinero and Alfred Sutro. He managed several West End theatres during his career, including the Royalty, the Criterion, the Garrick (for a total of eight years), His Majesty's and the Strand. In his later years Bourchier became active in British politics as a member of the Labour Party. (For more details on his theatrical career in England, see the Wikipedia entry on him.)

In the last year of his life Bourchier embarked on a tour of South Africa. He toured the country, being seen on stage in Bloemfontein by the young schoolboy Gert Borstlap, later to become famous as André Huguenet. Unfortunately Bourchier became ill while on tour and died of pneumonia in Johannesburg in 1927 at the age of 64.

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