Gustavus V. Brooke

(1818-1866) A “great Tragedian” from England (of Irish extraction) who visited Cape Town with his company en route to the Australian goldfields. Also listed as G.V. Brooke. Possibly in 1848 (though Hartnoll suggests he only left England after appearing in London in 1853 and F.C.L. Bosman, 1928, gives his arrival as 1855.)

He apparently had a good presence and a fine voice, but had failed to fulfill his early promise due to intemperence. They performed in the Barracks Theatre during the revictualling of their vessel, presenting excerpts from Romeo and Juliet, Othello,The Iron Chest and The Lady of Lyons, plus The Box and the Cox and other light afterpieces. Apparently not well staged, but popular nevertheless. He drowned on a second voyage to Australia.