THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

George W. Cockburn (1893-94)

[Born Newington, London c.Jan 1868]

George William Cockburn was eleven years old when he appeared in 1880 at the Opera Comique and on tour as Ralph Rackstraw in a children's production of H.M.S. Pinafore managed by Richard D'Oyly Carte.At the time, he was accused by one Glasgow newspaper of being a girl. He left the stage when his voice broke but returned at age 17.

Cockburn was a well-known lead and character actor who worked primarily in the legitimate theatre. He played at many West End London theatres, and toured Germany with Forbes-Robertson and Mrs. Patrick Campbell.

In 1890, Cockburn toured South America with Edwin Cleary's English Comic Opera Company, appearing in Buenas Aires in several roles including Bill Bobstay in Pinafore, Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance, and Pish-Tush in The Mikado. The Company also appeared for five nights in Montevideo.

His only adult experience with the D'Oyly Carte organization came in between December 1893 and June 1894, when he toured Great Britain and Ireland with D'Oyly Carte Opera Company "D" as Scaphio in Utopia Limited.

His last appearance on the London Stage was as Marquis de Beaumont in A Royal Divorce (Scala, January-February 1906).

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