Amelia Bailey
Amelia Bailey (1842-1932) was a operatic singer and company manager.
Contents
Biography
Born Amelia Elizabeth Bailey in London on 5 November 1842, she was married to the theatrical manager Robert Sparrow Smythe and was the founder and co-manager of the Poussard-Bailey Opera Company
She passed away on 29 July 1932 (aged 89 years)
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
She spent two years working in South Africa, having arrived at the Cape from Mauritius with the Poussard-Bailey Company. In that time they toured most of the country, making 150 appearances in all.
In November 1868, the company temporarily broke up when the two men, the manager Robert Sparrow Smythe and the violinist Horace Poussard left for England and France, while two singers, Amelia and Florence Calzado, stayed at the Cape until June 1869 (inter alia presenting concerts in the Mutual Hall, Cape Town)
Thereafter they sailed directly back to Melbourne to rejoin the rest of the company and reconstitute the Poussard-Bailey Company.
Sources
https://peoplepill.com/people/amelia-bailey/
F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 223, 244, 246, 283, 288, 294
Go to the ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities B
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
