Allan Wilkie

Allan Wilkie CBE (9 February 1878 – 7 January 1970) was an English Shakespearean actor of Scottish descent noted for his career in Australia.

Born in Toxteth Park, Lancashire, he was educated at Liverpool High School and went to work in a merchant's office but became infatuated with the theatre after experiencing a performance by Osmond Tearle. He trained in the companies of Ben Greet, Frank Benson and Beerbohm Tree. On 4 February 1904 he married an actress Iné de la Garde Cameron, whom he divorced a few years later. In 1905 he founded his own company, touring with The Merchant of Venice. On 22 July 1909 he married Frediswyde Hunter-Watts (1887?–1951) who soon became his leading lady, billed as "Miss Hunter-Watts". She was the daughter of the politician Hunter Watts.

In 1911 his company played in India, followed by Ceylon, India, Singapore, British Malaya, Hong Kong, Japan in 1912 and the Philippines, returning to England in 1913, where he accepted an invitation to join a company in South Africa. He and his wife were there when World War I broke out, so decided to continue to Australia where Frediswyde had relations. Her brother, J. Hunter-Watts, had travelled with Wilkie in the East and in 1928 travelled to Australia to manage the company's finances.

In 1915 they were playing Sweet Nell of Old Drury with the Nellie Stewart company that toured New Zealand for four months. In 1916 he joined George Marlow's Grand Shakespearean Company playing Shylock in The Merchant of Venice at "The Princess" in Sydney with his wife playing Portia, then As You Like It at "The Adelphi" in Melbourne playing Jaques, both to 'mixed reviews'. and in 1920 formed the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company of thirty players who for eight years toured Australia giving around 14000 performances with his leading lady wife Miss (Frediswyde) Hunter-Watts. He maintained a varied program: his company knew most of the Bard's plays and no production was played on consecutive nights. For instance, they performed thirteen plays at His Majesty's Theatre, Perth from April to May 1926. A remarkable feature of their schedule was an annual Christmas season at the Theatre Royal, Hobart at a time when Tasmania was almost universally bypassed by touring companies. A serious setback occurred in June 1926, when the Geelong, Victoria Mechanics' Institute burned down with all his wardrobes and what few props and scenery they carried. Within a short time £4000 was raised from donations and benefit performances, with Orient Shipping Line contributing a free return passage to London so he could purchase new armour, wigs and wardrobes. On 22 January 1927 they were able to meet their annual commitment to Hobart!

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