Edgley, Eric and Dawe, Clem (comedians/directors/theatrical entrepreneurs)

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English vaudeville brothers Eric Edgley (1899-1967) and Clem Dawe (d.1955) were invited to Australia in 1920 by J Tait to appear in a production of Sinbad the Sailor at King's Theatre, Melbourne. They were originally born Eric and Clem White, and changed their names in their early years to stage names. The partnership later toured Australia for theatre manager J. C. Williamson, and played in shows including Robinson Crusoe, Love Lies and So This Is Love, and then toured Australasia, the United Kingdom and South Africa, doing shows under various arrangements, and moving from performers to promoters. In 1951 they moved to Perth, Western Australia to manage His Majesty's Theatre, taking a lease on the venue in 1954. Clem Dawe died the following year. In 1958 the company purchased His Majesty's Theatre and undertook extensive renovation work. From the early 1960s Eric Edgley arranged tours to Australasia from Russian performing troupes including the Bolshoi Ballet, the Georgian State Dance Company and the Moscow Variety Theatre. Edgley also promoted local talent including the West Australian Ballet. Eric died in 1967 and management of the company was taken over his then 23-year-old son Michael Edgley. Link to catalogue record.

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