W.R. Clifton

W.R. Clifton (18*-1877) was an experienced British actor.

Biography

Described by a writer in the Cape Argus of 22 November, 1877, as "about 40 years of age and a somewhat stout in person, of a very genial disposition", he apparently had many friends and had built up a quite a reputation in London before he came to South Africa.

In 1877, while still working in South Africa, he committed suicide.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

He was recruited by Disney Roebuck for his first company to arrive in Cape Town in November, 1873, for a season lasting till March of 1874. He was billed as the "Acting and Stage-Manager" for the company, but also appeared in a major roles to good effect, for example Craven's Milky White. He was however prone to illness and depression it would seem.

He is next mentioned in October, 1877, when he and the actress Constance Young were brought out to Cape Town in October as reinforcements for Disney Roebuck's company for its new season there.

However, a combination of a long and painful illness, an accident aboard the ship coming over, the African heat and overwork seems to have got the better of him this time round, for he committed suicide towards the end of November, after only five weeks in the country. He was buried in an English churchyard in Cape Town.

Sources

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1923. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

Cape Argus of 22 November, 1877 (cited by Bosman, 1980: p. 353, footnote 252)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.306, 308, 311, 315, 319, 353 and 363.

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