John Bannister (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Bannister
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| Born | 12 May 1760 |
| Died | 7 November 1836 (aged 76) |
| Nationality | British |
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John Bannister (born May 12, 1760 – died November 7, 1836) was a famous English actor and theatre manager. People sometimes called him 'Jack' Bannister. We know a lot about his life from his own writings, called Memoirs. He was a very well-known performer during his time.
Contents
Early Life and First Roles
John Bannister was born in a place called Deptford, in England. His father, Charles Bannister, was also an actor. John first wanted to be a painter, but he soon discovered his love for acting.
His first official acting job was at the Haymarket Theatre in 1778. He played a character named Dick in a funny play called The Apprentice. In the same year, he acted at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He played Zaphna in a play called Mahomet. He even learned this role from the famous actor David Garrick.
Becoming a Star
John Bannister became more and more famous. In 1779, he played Don Whiskerando in a popular play called The Critic. He was also very well known for playing Joseph Surface in The School for Scandal. These roles helped him become a leading actor.
Family Life
On January 26, 1783, John Bannister married Elizabeth Harper. Elizabeth was also a talented actor and singer. John was a bit worried about another rising star, John Philip Kemble. So, his wife Elizabeth taught him how to sing to help him compete for roles.
John and Elizabeth had four daughters. Elizabeth stopped acting in 1792 to focus on raising their family.
A Gift for Comedy
John Bannister was known as one of the best actors for funny roles in his time. He was great at making people laugh.
He acted in many plays and musicals. For example, in 1787, he played Juan in a musical called The Doctor and the Apothecary. In 1788, he was the main actor, Sir David Dunder, in a play called Ways and Means.
Working with Friends
John Bannister was good friends with Michael Kelly, who was a singer. Kelly wrote about Bannister many times in his own Memoirs. They even acted together in a play called The Pirates in 1792. This play was directed by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, who was a famous playwright.
In 1799, Bannister and Kelly worked together to get the rights to a German play. They asked Tom Dibdin to write a new story for it, which they called Of Age Tomorrow. Kelly wrote the music for it. Bannister played the Hair Dresser in this play and was praised for his performance.
Theatre Manager
John Bannister was also a very successful theatre manager at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane from 1802 to 1815. He helped run the theatre and decide which plays to put on.
In 1804, he acted in a play called The Sailor's Daughter. Even though it started slowly, it became quite popular. In 1809, there was a big fire that destroyed the Drury Lane theatre. Bannister was part of a group, including Michael Kelly and Richard Sheridan, who met the day after the fire. They decided to keep the acting company together. They moved to another theatre called the Lyceum while the Drury Lane theatre was rebuilt.
Later Roles
In 1814, John Bannister played Duretete in a play called The Inconstant. People remembered his performance for a long time. In the same year, he played Scrub in The Beaux's Stratagem. He also played Colonel Feignwell in A Bold Stroke For A Wife.
In 1815, he acted in The Apprentice again, which was the play he first performed in. People loved his funny acting and how well he recited the opening speech.
Beyond the Stage
Even though he was a busy actor and manager, John Bannister never stopped loving painting. He was friends with famous painters like Thomas Gainsborough, George Morland, and Thomas Rowlandson.
