Melville Family

The Melvilles were a thriving theatrical family. The dynasty started with George Melville (1824-1898), a Shakespearian actor, who is reputed to have run away from home at the age of nine to join the travelling theatrical troupe of John Richardson. His son Andrew Melville (1853-1896) was an actor and theatre proprietor in many towns and cities all over the country.

Andrew's two eldest sons Frederick and Walter continued the tradition; managing, directing, producing, writing and acting in plays. These included the 'Bad Woman' dramas: plays with a strong moral theme, very much suited to the tastes of the day. The brothers shared the proprietorship of the Lyceum Theatre in the Strand where they produced their own plays, many of which were never published, and staged elaborate pantomimes. Their sisters, Edith, Minnie, Kate and Beatrice were all actresses: their brother Andrew Melville II (1882-1938) was a successful actor and theatre manager and producer.

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