THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Rose Roberts (1877)

[Born Dover]

Rose Roberts first appeared on stage at Drury Lane under F. B. Chatterton's management in the late 1860s. In May 1870 she created the part of Gretchen in W. S. Gilbert and Frederic Clay's "musical legend" The Gentleman in Black at London's Charing Cross Theatre. After that she played primarily in legitimate theatre with companies headed by such luminaries as Charles Wyndham, Forbes-Robertson, Genevieve Ward, Mary Anderson, and Lillie Langtry.

She played a Tea-woman in Richard D'Oyly Carte's one-act "musical pastoral" Happy Hampstead when it was produced under Carte's and Kate Santley's management at the Royalty Theatre, London, from January 13 to February 9, 1877. It was her only engagement under D'Oyly Carte auspices.

Miss Roberts toured America with Miss Langtry (appearing in New York in 1887 and 1889), and later, for fifteen years, toured the British provinces with her own company. Her company was considered a training ground for many popular actors.

R Index  |  "Who Was Who" Homepage