Pub: Square One Publications, Worcester, UK
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Du Val Tonight!The Story of a ShowmanThis perceptive and thoroughly researched study of Irish actor and journalist Charles Du Val (1846-1889) covers mid-Victorian theatre and the rise of the music-hall as well as theatrical tours of South Africa in the 1880s.
Why I wrote Du Val Tonight!I wrote Du Val Tonight! because his own book, With A Show Through Southern Africa, was in the library of our traditional family home, Melrose House in Pretoria, and inscribed by the author to my great grandparents.
Charles Du Val photographed with his sister Lily, in Londonderry around 1870 |
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More than 20 years after reading it, we moved to the Isle of Man and, by chance, I found Du Val had a descendant living there who introduced me to the family in Ireland. I was hooked!From the Dust CoverThis perceptive and thoroughly researched study of Irish actor and journalist Charles du Val (1846-1889) covers mid-Victorian theatre and the rise of the music-hall as well as theatrical tours of South Africa in the 1880s.
Born in Manchester of Irish parents, Du Val was the most popular solo entertainer of his day. For many years he lived in Dublin, where he made his debut and first gave his famous female impersonations, before moving to London. He took his show all over Ireland and around the mainland from Aberdeen to Southampton as well as the Isle of Man, where he had family connections. His versatility extended to writing his own material, including the music. He sustained several long seasons in London’s West End and was commanded to appear before the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII). He wrote for leading journals of his day, including the Weekly Irish Times and the Pall Mall Gazette and for a brief period edited a newspaper in extraordinary circumstances. Numerous illustrations include photographs of Du Val in costume and line drawings of his travels.
This picture of Pretoria was published with an article on the Transvaal which appeared in the Illustrated London News of March 3rd, 1877. A copy is in the Africana Museum, Johannesburg. The article comments on the number of English and people of other nations who had flocked to the Transvaal after the discovery of gold in the eastern Transvaal. |
DuVal in India
Pretoria from the south |
Du Val’s experiences there, recounted in his book With A Show Through Southern Africa, throw an intriguing sidelight on that country’s history. He also visited and wrote about Mauritius, Ceylon and India.