THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Robert Brough

Robert Brough (1879-80)

[Born South Lambeth, London 13 Jul 1855, died Darling Hurst, NSW, Australia 14 Apr 1906]

Member of famous theatrical family, Robert Brough was, in June 1879, at age 22 the stage manager for D'Oyly Carte's "B" Company, shortly known as Mr. D'Oyly Carte's 2^nd Pinafore Company, and later still designated as "A" Company. He served in this capacity until December 1880, and for most of his tenure played principal roles as well. In July 1879, he assumed the role of Dick Deadeye from Arthur Rousbey, playing it on tour until December 1879 when Fred Billington joined the Company. When Billington transferred out in February 1880, Brough resumed the role until December of that year. He also played named parts in the one-act companion pieces that accompanied Pinafore on tour:first as Pennyfather in After All, later as Robert in Four By Honours, and Joseph in In the Sulks.

Brough left the D'Oyly Carte organization in December 1880, but continued to perform on occasion in London until 1885. One notable role there was as Zapeter in the 1881 revival of Gilbert and Clay's Princess Toto at the Opera Comique.

In 1885, he and his wife, Florence Trevellyan, traveled to Australia where they appeared face to face as Lord Chancellor and Queen of the Fairies in Australia's first production of Iolanthe, May 9, 1885, at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne. He had several other engagements in his Australian career as performer and manager (including another appearance in Princess Toto in 1886), but Iolanthe appears to have been his only Gilbert and Sullivan production there.

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