THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Norah Wilcocks (1920-25)

[Born Glasgow 22 Mar 1889, died near Merredin, Western Australia 4 May 1928]

Norah (or Nora) Wilcocks was the stage name for Mary Eleanor Clapperton, a chorister with the D'Oyly Carte "New" Opera Company from May 1920 to June 1925. She took the small part of Giulia in The Gondoliers from July 1922 to April 1924, and filled in on occasion as Fiametta in the same opera during the 1922-23 season. In October and November 1924 she gave several performances as Yum-Yum in The Mikado and Rose Maybud in Ruddigore in place of Dorice Cullerne.

In 1925 she left the Company, her country, and her husband, and traveled to Australia, where she formed a liaison with ex-D'Oyly Carte baritone Bernard Manning. At the time of her sudden death, on a railway train bound for Perth, local papers identified her erroneously as Mrs. Manning.

Her sister Beatrice was with the D'Oyly Carte Principal Repertory Opera Company chorus between September 1913 and March 1914 using the stage name Beatrice May.

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