Luke Sparks facts for kids
Luke Sparks (1711–1768) was a famous stage actor from Ireland who lived in the 1700s. He was known for performing in many plays during his time.
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Who Was Luke Sparks?
Luke Sparks was an important actor in the 18th century. He performed on stages in both Dublin, Ireland, and London, England. His career showed how actors traveled and worked in different cities back then.
Early Life in Dublin
Luke Sparks was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1711. His father made "stays," which were parts of clothing like corsets. Luke also had a brother named Isaac Sparks, who became an actor too. It seems acting ran in their family!
Starting His Acting Career
Luke Sparks began his acting journey in 1733. His very first known role was at the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin. For several years, he performed at both Smock Alley and the Ransford Street Theatre, also in Dublin.
In 1739, Luke Sparks traveled to London, England. He acted at two very famous theaters there: Covent Garden and Drury Lane. One play he appeared in was The Twin Rivals by George Farquhar.
Moving to London Stages
After some time in London, Luke Sparks returned to Dublin. He performed at the new Aungier Street Theatre. But he didn't stay in Ireland for long.
From 1745 to 1748, he joined the acting company at Drury Lane in London again. Then, in October 1748, he moved to Covent Garden. He stayed at Covent Garden for a long time, until 1765. By 1761, he was earning a good salary of £7 a week, which was a lot of money back then!
His Later Years and Retirement
Luke Sparks decided to retire from acting in 1765. He might have stopped performing because of his health. After retiring, he settled down in a town called Brentford.
Luke Sparks's son, James Sparks, also tried acting for a short time on the London stage. Luke Sparks passed away in 1768.
