THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

James Parkinson in Ruddigore

James Parkinson (1919-26)

James Parkinson was a chorister with the D'Oyly Carte "New" Opera Company for one season (September 1919-June 1920) before joining the main Repertory Company. He served with D'Oyly Carte Repertory Opera Company chorus from July 1920 to December 1926. During his tenure he appeared briefly as Second Yeoman in The Yeomen of the Guard (1920-21, sharing the part with Henry Blain), the Foreman of the Jury in Trial by Jury and Mr. Bunthorne's Solicitor in Patience (both in 1926). He left the D'Oyly Carte in December 1926 after the 13-week London Season and prior to the 1927 Canadian tour.

Parkinson is perhaps best known as one of the co-founders (with H. R. Sleigh) of Parkslee Pictures, the company that published the photo postcards of D'Oyly Carte artists in the 1920s. He later appeared as an extra in Lehar's The Land of Smiles at Drury Lane in 1931.

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