Barrett, Wilson, 1848-1904

Alfred Wilson Barrettt was an actor, dramatist, theatre proprietor and manager. One of his 27 works for the stage was set in Australia (The never-never land, 1902). He visited Australia twice in 1896 and 1902-03.

Wilson Barrett, an actor, playwright, and theatre manager, was raised in London, where he worked odd jobs as a child. He began acting in 1864, and joined a company based in Aberdeen. He formed his own company in 1870, and began managing theatres during this time, first in Halifax, Hull, and Leeds, later in London, including The Princess. He had his share of successes and failures, often with plays he co-wrote or adapted himself; he led his company on several successful tours of the United States and Canada. Barrett was a traditional actor with roots in Victorian values; he was widely praised by critics who shared these sensibilities, and was reviewed less favorably by modern writers.

Epithet: actor; of Add MS 42578

English actor and manager.

It is not known who assembled the scrapbook. There is a name stamped on some of the leaves, an H.H. Dobbin of San Francisco, but he may have only been an owner of the scrapbook.

English actor, playwright, and manager of theaters, among them the Princess Theatre in London.

Epithet: actor; of Add MS 44523

English actor-manager