Cecil Crofton

2026-06-25T10:53:36Z

Io:

Cecil Crofton was the stage name of Frederick Martin (c.1859-1935). He had gained experience of acting on the amateur stage, including at Chatsworth House, in Derbyshire, England. His father, Gilson Martin, was the land agent for the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire for 27 years.

Crofton began his stage career in 1882 in Wilson Barrett's Lights o' London company at the Princess's Theatre. He toured as Charles II in ''Nell Gwynne;'' performed in ''The Countess and the Dancer'' and ''Camille'' at the Olympic Theatre in 1886; and in Cunningham Bridgman's ''Mischief'' at the Gaiety. In that same year he played the role of George Ralston in ''Jim the Penman'' which was then performed again at the Shaftesbury Theatre when it opened in 1889 and on tour in 1893. In 1891 he played Mr. Dobbinson in Our Regiment and in the same year was at Drury Lane as Spooner in ''Formosa''. He also played in ''The Prince and the Pauper, Watching and Waiting,'' and ''The Custome House'' at the Vaudeville Theatre and ''Brighton'' at the Criterion Theatre. In 1894 he toured in The Late Lamented. He also performed in ''The Middleman'' as Epiphany Danks and ''The Professor's Love Story'' as Dr Yellowlees before his professional career came to an end.

Crofton died a bachelor at the age of 76. An obituary describes Crofton as having an "engaging personality" and there is various evidence to suggest that he may have been queer.
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Britain]]

Robert Coates

2023-10-20T09:23:12Z

Io: new link

[[File:The Gay Lothario. The Great and Celebrated Amateur of Fashion MET DP818363.jpg|thumb|578x578px|The Gay Lothario: The Great and Celebrated Amateur of Fashion]]
[[File:The amateur actor Robert Coates dreaming about his success o Wellcome V0050204.jpg|thumb|581x581px|Satirical image of Robert Coates titled 'An Amateur's Dream'.]]
[[File:Robert Coates (actor).jpg|thumb|Robert Coates]]
[[File:Portrait of Emma Anne Coates (nee Robinson) - DPLA - a50ac6022116e3c100a5fc8af59977ba.jpg|thumb|Emma Anne Coates, the wife of Robert Coates]]
[[File:Bodleian Libraries, Princely piety, or- the worshippers at Wanstead.jpg|thumb|294x294px|Caricature titled 'Princely Piety, or- the Worshippers at Wanstead'. The caricature, by George Cruikshank, depicts suitors wooing a wealthy young heiress. Robert Coates appears in black, to the left of Sir Lumley Skeffington in red, at the foot of the staircase. ]]
Robert Coates (1772- 21 February 1848) was an amateur actor, who performed in Britain in the early nineteenth century. He was satirised by the press and by cartoonists for his amateur theatrical endeavours and for his interests in fashion.

== Amateur Theatrical Career==
He performed in a number of roles in the early nineteenth century.

==Personal Life==
He was married in 1823 to Emma and had two children.

Using queer historiographical approaches to studying Robert Coates, it seems possible that he was queer.
[[File:Grave of Robert Coates in Kensal Green Cemetery.jpg|thumb|Robert Coates's grave in Kensal Green Cemetery, London. ]]
Robert Coates is buried in [[Kensal Green Cemetery]] in London.
[[Category:Britain]]
[[Category:People]]

Amateur Theatre Wiki - User contributions [en]

Cecil Crofton

Robert Coates