Claude Flemming (1884â€"1952) was an Australian actor, writer,
producer and director of theatre and film whose varied stage career
spanned the first half of the 20th century. He performed in
Shakespeare and other drama, as well as opera, and became a music
comedy specialist.Flemming was born in Camden, New South Wales. He
made his stage début for George Rignold's Shakespeare company in
Sydney in 1903. Soon afterwards, in England, he appeared on tour with
Herbert Beerbohm Tree's Company and then performed in grand opera at
Covent Garden (Die Meistersinger, The Angelus). He later played in
Edwardian musical comedy and operetta in the West End, including in
Fallen Fairies (1909) and in New York. During and after the First
World War, he toured in his homeland with the J. C. Williamson company
in such musicals and operettas as The Chocolate Soldier, The Maid of
the Mountains, A Southern Maid, The Firefly, The Cousin from Nowhere,
Sybil and Lilac Time.He acted and directed in several silent films in
1917 and 1918. Later, in America, he had a stint as a voice coach in
Hollywood during the early years of sound films and as a company
director for Efftee Studios. He directed The Magic Shoes (1935), the
first screen performance of Peter Finch. He also worked as supervisor
of productions at radio station 2CH in Sydney.His last stage work in
Australia was as Col. Buffalo Bill in the Australian premiere in
Melbourne, and subsequent three-year tour, of Annie Get Your Gun from
1947â€"50.
producer and director of theatre and film whose varied stage career
spanned the first half of the 20th century. He performed in
Shakespeare and other drama, as well as opera, and became a music
comedy specialist.Flemming was born in Camden, New South Wales. He
made his stage début for George Rignold's Shakespeare company in
Sydney in 1903. Soon afterwards, in England, he appeared on tour with
Herbert Beerbohm Tree's Company and then performed in grand opera at
Covent Garden (Die Meistersinger, The Angelus). He later played in
Edwardian musical comedy and operetta in the West End, including in
Fallen Fairies (1909) and in New York. During and after the First
World War, he toured in his homeland with the J. C. Williamson company
in such musicals and operettas as The Chocolate Soldier, The Maid of
the Mountains, A Southern Maid, The Firefly, The Cousin from Nowhere,
Sybil and Lilac Time.He acted and directed in several silent films in
1917 and 1918. Later, in America, he had a stint as a voice coach in
Hollywood during the early years of sound films and as a company
director for Efftee Studios. He directed The Magic Shoes (1935), the
first screen performance of Peter Finch. He also worked as supervisor
of productions at radio station 2CH in Sydney.His last stage work in
Australia was as Col. Buffalo Bill in the Australian premiere in
Melbourne, and subsequent three-year tour, of Annie Get Your Gun from
1947â€"50.
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