Lydia Thompson
| Lydia Thompson | ||
 Lydia Thompson in "Robinson Crusoe" (ca. 1870) | ||
| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Eliza Hodges Thompson | |
| Born | Feb 19, 1838 London | |
| Died | Nov 17, 1908 - age 69 London | |
| Occupation | Burlesque actress | |
| Years active | 52 | |
| Spouse(s) | John Christian Tilbury | |
Click here for Burlesque History page |
Lydia Thompson (Eliza Hodges Thompson) ( ✦February 19, 1838, London – †November 17, 1908 was an English burlesque actress.
At the age of 14, Lydia Thompson joined the dancing chorus at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Westminster. The first part which won critical notice was Little Silverhair in the pantomime Harlequin. She then joined Haymarket Theatre where she featured as a solo dancer in the play Mr. Buckstone's Voyage Round the Globe. She then played at St James's Theatre.
In 1855 she toured through Europe playing in Russia, Germany, Austria, France, and Scandinavia. In the following years, she alternated between playing in London and in various provincial towns. Then from 1868 to 1874, she toured the United States. In 1874 she returned with her company to Britain and played in London and the provinces but in the following years, she made regular return trips to America, where she remained popular.
She made her last stage appearance in 1904.
References
- Kurt Ganzl - Lydia Thompson: Queen of Burlesque (Forgotten Stars of Musical Theatre, 1) – Routledge, 2002 ISBN-13: 978-0415937665
- K F Gänzl - Encyclopaedia Of The Musical Theatre – Thompson, Lydia
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