Theodosia Stirling

Theodosia Stirling, born Theodosia Yates (1815 – 19 July 1904), also known as "Mrs Guerin", "Mrs Macintosh", was an Australian stage actor and opera singer (contralto).[1]

She was a great-granddaughter of the famous actor and actress Richard Yates and Mary Ann Yates.[2] She was born as Theodosia Yates, and became known under the names Stirling, Guerin and Stewart during her three marriages. She also used the name Macintosh in some documents. She secondly married the musician James Guerin in Hobart, Tasmania, and thirdly in 1857 to the actor Richard Stewart. She became the mother of the singers Maggie and Docy Stewart in her second marriage, and of Nellie Stewart in her third.

Theodosia Stirling was an actor and singer of some note in London before she emigrated to the colonies, which made her somewhat unusual. She belonged to the professional British actors recruited by Anne Clarke (theatre manager) to perform at the Theatre Royal, Hobart in 1841-42, alongside Jerome Carandini, John Howson and Frank Howson, and was engaged there for three years. She was described as the primadonna of the Theatre Royal in Tasmania.[3]

She left Tasmania in 1845 and initiated a successful career as an actor and opera singer in Sydney, where she was engaged at the Victoria Theatre. In 1846, she starred in Michael Balfe's The Bohemian Girl, which was one of her more known roles. She was one of few female singers regarded to be able to rival the primadonna Marie Carandini, and their rivalry onstage was reported about in the press reviews.

After leaving her engagement in Sydney, she started a famed travelling family company with her third husband, which toured Australian and India and in which she played a leading part. They were referred to as the "first family of the Australian stage".

Stirling died at her home, 251 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne on 19 July 1904[4] and was buried in Boroondara Cemetery, Kew.[5] Her third husband, Richard, had predeceased her on 24 August 1902.[6]

References
  1. Anae, Nicole: A Selected and Crowned Band of women, 2005
  2. Richard Fotheringham, Angela Turner: Australian Plays for the Colonial Stage: 1834-1899
  3. John Cargher, Opera and ballet in Australia, Cassell Australia, 1977
  4. "Family Notices". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 1904-07-20. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  5. "Family Notices". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 1904-07-21. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  6. "Family Notices". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 1902-08-25. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
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