George Augustus Oliver Conquest (1837 – 14 May 1901) was a playwright, theatrical manager, acrobat and

pantomimist Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speakin ...

described as "the most stunning actor-acrobat of his time".

Early life and family

Conquest was born in 1837, the son of theatrical manager

Benjamin Conquest Benjamin Conquest (3 December 1803 - 12 July 1872), born Benjamin Oliver, was the manager of the Garrick and Grecian Theatres. Early life and family Conquest was born Benjamin Oliver 3 December 1803 and baptised on 8 January 1804 He married Clari ...

(c. 1804 – 12 July 1872). He was educated in France. He had three sons who were also active in the theatre, George Conquest (1858–1926), Fred Conquest (1871–1941) and Arthur Conquest (1875–1945)."Conquest family" in

Career

In 1851, Benjamin Conquest acquired the Grecian Theatre and Eagle Tavern in the City Road, Hackney, London. The theatre had previously produced light opera and was originally a

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...

, but Conquest senior switched to Shakespeare which was unsuccessful. He then tried melodrama which was more popular and he produced over 100 such shows written by George, often adapted from French productions. George was also an acrobat and

and produced and appeared in nearly 50 pantomimes with

Henry Spry Henry Thomas Augustus Spry (bapt. 2 July 1834 – 17 February 1904) was an English playwright and pantomime performer who co-wrote and appeared in nearly 50 productions with George Conquest at the Surrey Theatre and elsewhere. Early life Henry S ...

. George helped to run the Grecian and inherited it on his father's death. The theatre was rebuilt in 1858, again in 1876, and sold in around 1878 or 1879 when George Conquest went on a tour of the United States. He was injured in a stage accident during the tour. He returned to England and took over the

Surrey Theatre The Surrey Theatre, London began life in 1782 as the Royal Circus and Equestrian Philharmonic Academy, one of the many circuses that provided entertainment of both horsemanship and drama (hippodrama). It stood in Blackfriars Road, near the jun ...

in Lambeth in 1881, staging melodramas and pantomimes as he had at the Grecian. The last production in which he appeared was ''Sinbad and the Little Old Man of the Sea &c.'' with Dan Leno and wife in 1897. His son George took over the theatre on his father's death.

Death

Conquest died on 14 May 1901.

Selected works with Henry Spry

*''Spitz-Spitz the Spider Crab; or The Pirate of Spitsbergen''. Grecian Theatre, 1875. *''Jack and the Beanstalk, which grew to the moon; or, the Giant, Jack Frost and the Ha-Ha Balloon''. Surrey Theatre, 1886. Starring Dan Leno and wife. *''Sinbad and the Little Old Man of the Sea; or, The Tinker, the Tailor, the Soldier, the Sailor, Apothecary, Ploughboy, Gentleman Thief''. Surrey Theatre, 1887. Starring Dan Leno and wife.

References

1837 births 1901 deaths {{England-bio-stub