Charles Quartermaine
(1877-1958) Although Charles Quartermaine played many parts in many kinds of plays, Shakespeare seems to have always been his center of gravity. He said, in fact, that his favorite role was Romeo. Born in Richmond, Surrey, he made his first stage appearance at Tunbridge Wells in 1896. That same year he joined Sir Frank Benson‘s company and stayed with him until 1901; he of course almost exclusively played Shakespeare during those years. Before he joined Donald Wolfit’s troupe in 1944, he playedRead more
Courtice Pounds
(1862-1927) Charles Courtice Pounds began his career as a singer. Born in London, he studied music at various academies and institutions and his first stage appearance was in 1881 in the chorus of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience. Not until 1901 at His Majesty’s Theatre did he play a part in Shakespeare, as Feste in Twelfth Night. That same year he played Touchstone at the Prince’s Theatre in Manchester; in 1902 he played in The Merry Wives of Windsor. His abilityRead more
Ellen O’Malley
(?-1961) Ellen O’Malley was born in Dublin and made her stage debut in 1898 at the Theatre Royale, Margate. Her first part in a Shakespeare play was as Queen Elizabeth in Richard Flanagan’s June, 1904, production of Richard III. Her next part was as Sylvia in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1904). In 1911, after playing Cordelia in King Lear in 1909 at the Haymarket Theatre, she joined the company of Sir Frank Benson, playing at Stratford and on tour. WithRead more
Dennis Neilson-Terry
(1895-1932) Younger brother of Phyllis Neilson-Terry. Nephew of Dame Ellen Terry. Son of Julia Neilson and Fred Terry. Dennis was born into the legendary acting family and had big shoes to fill from day one. He made his stage debut in the 1906 jubilee celebrations for his aunt, Ellen, as a page in Much Ado About Nothing. Under the stage name “Derrick Dennis,” he made his next appearance as Silvius in As You Like It (1911). After this, he spent time withRead more