Frank Clewlow

Frank Dawson Clewlow (October–December 1885 – 13 June 1957 Hobart, Tasmania) was an English-born actor-director, he worked in his native England, as well as Scotland, Australia and New Zealand, in 1936 he became Federal Controller of Productions for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

He was born in Stone, Staffordshire, England, to Joseph Clewlow (born 1858 Stafford, Staffordshire) and his wife Mary Jane Dawson (born 1857 in Luton, Bedfordshire) whom he married on 29 December 1884 at St Mary, Luton. Frank had two younger siblings Hilda Dorothy Clewlow (born 1891 in Stone) and Harry Dawson Clewlow (born 1898 in Stone) He went to Alleyne's Grammar School then studied maths, physics, chemistry, zoology and botany at the University of Birmingham, but became involved with the Pilgrim Players and, under the influence of Barry Jackson and John Drinkwater, never completed the course. He borrowed £4 and ran away from home as he couldn't take his University exams due to working on the play there. He joined a repertory company in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

He worked for two years as leading actor and stage manager under the name "Stafford Dawson" in 1909 for Annie Horniman at the Manchester Gaiety Theatre, Manchester., then toured with Allan Wilkie (father of Australian journalist Douglas Wilkie) to the Far East in 1911.

On his return, he was appointed by (later Sir) Barry Jackson as actor-producer with his newly formed Birmingham Repertory Company (1913–1918) where he appeared in:

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