Difference between revisions of "Wilson Barrett"

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There are two actor-managers by this name, both with links to South Africa
 
There are two actor-managers by this name, both with links to South Africa
  
Wilson Barrett
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=Wilson Barrett Snr=
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
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With his company, Barrett is credited with attracting the largest crowds of English theatregoers ever because of his success with melodrama, an instance being his production of The Silver King (1882) at the Princess's Theatre of London. The historical tragedy The Sign of the Cross (1895) was Barrett's most successful play, both in England and in the United States.  
 
With his company, Barrett is credited with attracting the largest crowds of English theatregoers ever because of his success with melodrama, an instance being his production of The Silver King (1882) at the Princess's Theatre of London. The historical tragedy The Sign of the Cross (1895) was Barrett's most successful play, both in England and in the United States.  
  
He passed away on 22 July 1904
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He passed away in London on 22 July 1904.
  
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
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The company also included [[Lilla McCarthy]] and [[Ambrose Manning]].
 
The company also included [[Lilla McCarthy]] and [[Ambrose Manning]].
  
== Sources ==
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=Wilson Barrett Jnr=
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The grandson of [[Wilson Barrett Snr]], he became an actor-director with the Brandon-Thomas Company before starting his own repertory in 1939, called the [[Wilson Barrett Company]]. The company was based in Scotland, inter alia using Edinburgh's Lyceum , the Alhambra Theatre Glasgow and for a time based in in Aberdeen. The company also performed on television, at the Edinburgh International Festival and, by invitation, in South Africa. The company was retired in 1954.
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==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
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 +
 
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= Sources =
  
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_Barrett
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_Barrett

Revision as of 06:32, 27 July 2021

Wilson Barrett (1846-1904)[1] was a playwright and actor-manager.


There are two actor-managers by this name, both with links to South Africa

Wilson Barrett Snr

Biography

Born William Henry Barrett in on 18 February 1846,

With his company, Barrett is credited with attracting the largest crowds of English theatregoers ever because of his success with melodrama, an instance being his production of The Silver King (1882) at the Princess's Theatre of London. The historical tragedy The Sign of the Cross (1895) was Barrett's most successful play, both in England and in the United States.

He passed away in London on 22 July 1904.

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

Barrett and his company visited South Africa in 1902, doing a brief season in the Good Hope Theatre, Cape Town, under the auspices of the Wheeler Brothers in August. The season included performances of The Manxman, (Barrett's adaptation of Hal Caine's novel), The Silver King (Jones and Herman) and his own play, The Sign of the Cross.

The company also included Lilla McCarthy and Ambrose Manning.


Wilson Barrett Jnr

The grandson of Wilson Barrett Snr, he became an actor-director with the Brandon-Thomas Company before starting his own repertory in 1939, called the Wilson Barrett Company. The company was based in Scotland, inter alia using Edinburgh's Lyceum , the Alhambra Theatre Glasgow and for a time based in in Aberdeen. The company also performed on television, at the Edinburgh International Festival and, by invitation, in South Africa. The company was retired in 1954.

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

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_Barrett

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.)

F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [2]: pp.

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

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