John Evans (actor) facts for kids

John Evans (born around 1693, died around 1734) was a talented actor who mostly performed in Ireland. He was known for his strong voice and clear way of speaking, making him a popular performer.

Early Career and Theatre Management

John Evans was not just an actor; he also helped manage the famous Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin. He worked alongside other theatre figures like Thomas Elrington and Griffith. This shows he was an important part of the theatre scene in Ireland during his time.

Evans played various characters on stage. Two roles he was known for around 1715 were Alcibiades in a play called ‘Timon of Athens’ (which was based on a Shakespeare play) and Lieutenant Story in ‘The Committee, or the Faithful Irishman.’

A Challenging Incident

Even popular actors can face difficulties. Around 1714, near the end of Queen Anne's rule, John Evans was performing in Cork. After a show, some army officers invited him to a tavern. There, Evans made a toast to Queen Anne.

This simple toast led to a big argument with an officer who supported the Jacobite cause. Jacobites were people who believed that the old royal family (the Stuarts) should be on the throne, not Queen Anne. The argument quickly turned into a duel, where Evans managed to disarm his opponent.

When Evans returned to Dublin, he found that the story had been twisted. People thought he had insulted the army. Because of this misunderstanding, the theatre was not allowed to continue its play, ‘The Rival Queens,’ until Evans apologized. He was very unwilling to apologize, but he had to. When one person told him to kneel, Evans bravely replied, "No, you rascal, I'll kneel to none but God and my queen." Luckily, the situation was eventually sorted out.

Later Life and Passing

According to some accounts, about three years after the incident in Cork, John Evans traveled to England to perform at the Lincoln's Inn Fields theatre. On his way back to Ireland, he became very ill with a fever in Whitchurch, Shropshire. He was then taken to Chester for better medical care, where he sadly passed away. He was about 41 years old. He was buried privately in the cathedral there, without a special marker.