William Haviland
William Haviland (1860-1917)[1] was a British Shakespearian actor, director and manager.
Biography
William Haviland began his stage career when he joined the company of Sir Henry Irving in 1882, performing minor and major roles in the thirteen years he played and toured with Irving. He left Irving in 1895 to found the William Haviland and Gerald Lawrence Shakespearean Company with Gerald Lawrence (1873-1957)[2], inter alia to tour in South Africa in 1897. On his return he joined the company of Johnston Forbes-Robertson and then that of Martin Harvey for his sixth tour of America in 1902.
In 1903 he joined Max Beerbohm Tree’s company and remained with him until 1905, returning to South Africa with Tree for his fourth tour. His final performance in Shakespeare came in a Dublin production of Richard II with Tree in 1913.
He apparently listed “rehearsing” among his recreations.
Contribution to South African theatre
In the period 1897-1898: He and Gerald Lawrence brought their Haviland and Lawrence Shakespearian & Dramatic Company to South Africa. He directed and performed in a large number of plays, including The Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice, Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing.
Sources
https://shakespeare.emory.edu/william-haviland/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Lawrence
The S.A. Merry-Go-Round, 2(4):28. August 21st, 1929.
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