Gertie Campion

Gertie Campion (fl. 1900-1904) was an actress.

Biography

Born in New Zealand, Gertie Campion began her career with the Pollard Lilliputian Opera Company, a company of boys and girls, ranging from 10–13 years of age, who kept together for many years. From 1880–1903, under their director Thomas John Pollard, this company toured New Zealand in more than 40 productions of light opera, musical comedy, and pantomime.

She apparently contracted tuberculosis while on tour in South Africa, and died in a sanatorium in Durban in 1904.

Contribution to South African theatre

In 1903 she was a member of what Boonzaier calls "the Royal Australian Opera Company" that performed in the Good Hope Theatre, Cape Town in under the management of the Wheeler Company. Among the roles she had on this tour was "Julie Bon-Bon" in The Gay Parisienne.

Sources

https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/theatre

https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22750314

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WH19041029.2.59

D.C. Boonzaier, 1980. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman, 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 414

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