Boothroyd Fairclough
Boothroyd Fairclough () was a renowned tragedian "from Australia and London".
Contents
Biography
Born in Lancashire and educated at the Manchester Grammar School, he went to the USA early in life where he began his career as an actor, working for the Booth family and playing many American theatres. In 18** he made his London debut, playing "Hamlet" at the Lyceum Theatre. .
Fairclough died at his residence in Gower street, London, on September 18, 1911.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Came out to Cape Town from Adelaide at the end of March, 1876 to present a series of readings from Shakespeare, Tennyson and others - the first of them, with performances of the Cagli Italian Opera Company. Engaged by Disney Roebuck for a popular 3 week season of Shakespeare at the new Theatre Royal in Burg Street and the Athenaeum Hall, Cape Town, he received lofty praise from local critics. Roles included "Hamlet", "Richelieu", "Sir Edward Mortimer" (The Iron Chest),
He left Cape Town for a new engagement in Melbourne
Sources
Obituary in "Dramatic Notes", The Register, Adelaide, Saturday 28 October 1911: p.8 [1]
F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.340-351
Jill Fletcher. 1994. The Story of Theatre in South Africa: A Guide to its History from 1780-1930. Cape Town: Vlaeberg.
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