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Charles Kemble


RichardB

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Charles Kemble. Born 25th Nov 1775 Brecknock, Brecknockshire, Wales. Died Nov 12th 1854 London. Theatrical manager, the first to use detailed historical sets and costumes on the English stage. An actor noted for his supporting roles in several Shakespeare plays, but at his best in comedy. Charles, the youngest member of the theatrical family, made his first recorded appearance in 1792 or 1793 in Sheffield as Orlando in Shakespeare's As You Like It.

His London debut took place on April 21st 1794 in Shakespeare's Macbeth. He acted Malcolm to his brother John Philip's Macbeth. In comedy he was frequently supported by his wife Maria Theresa. He became manager of Covent Garden but nearly went bankrupt until his daughter, Fanny Kemble, made her debut there in 1829 and became a success. Visits to the United States with his daughter in 1832 and 1834 also brought acclaim. Due to increasing deafness, he retired from the stage in December 1836 but gave readings of Shakespeare until 1840. After his retirement he was given the post of Examiner of Plays, a Government position he resigned in 1840 to his son John Mitchell, a distinguished philologist.

Jane Williamson's Charles Kemble - Man of the Theatre was published in 1970.

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Charles Kemble (25 November 1775 – 12 November 1854) was a British actor, the youngest son of Roger Kemble.

A younger brother of John Philip Kemble, Stephen Kemble and Sarah Siddons, he was born at Brecon, South Wales. Like John Philip, he was educated at Douai. After returning to England in 1792, he obtained a job in the post office, but soon resigned to go on the stage, making his first recorded appearance at Sheffield as Orlando in As You Like It in that year. During the early part of his career as an actor he slowly gained popularity. For a considerable time he played with his brother and sister, chiefly in secondary parts, and received little attention.

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