Playing the Empire

the long version

Forty years ago, W.E. Holloway wrote down his memories so that his grandchildren might appreciate the family history. His son, David, has combined the manuscript with other family records to tell of the many triumphs and disasters of the touring company up to 1914. It is a unique record of the life of actors in Victorian and Edwardian days, as well as the stirring story of a close knit family, whose motto – whatever the difficulties – was, “the show must go on.” As a history, it describes a way of life now sadly vanished, offering an insight into the organization of the old theatrical stock companies and a reflection of the social climate within which they operated.