Thom's Irish Who's Who/Fay, William George

FAY, William George, Actor and Manager. Educ.: Belvedere College, Dublin; made his first appearance on the stage at the Queen's Theatre, Dublin, 1891, in "Eileen Oge"; has fulfilled many engagements in England and Ireland, touring with provincial companies in repertoire and Irish plays; in 1902, started in Dublin the first entirely Irish company, to play Irish and Gaelic plays in 1903, in conjunction with Lady Gregory George Russel and W. B. Yeats, inaugurated "The Irish National Theatre Company" and in 1904 took up the management of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, for Miss A. E. F. Horniman, where he produced and played principal comedy parts in a large repertoire of Irish plays: made his first appearance in London at the Royalty Theatre, 26th March, 1904, in "Broken Soil," subsequently playing in "In the Shadow of the Glen," "Riders to the Sea," "The King's Threshold," etc. during his connection with the Abbey Company, created, among other parts: Martin Doul in "The Well of the Saints," Bartley Fallon in "Spreading the News," Barach in "On Baile's Strand," Murtagh Cosgar in "The Land," Shaw Grogan in "The Building Fund," Jeremiah Dempsey in "The Eloquent Dempsey," Michael Corney in "The Jackdaw," "Christopher Mahon in "The Playboy of the Western World," James Quirke in "Hyacinth Halvey" Luke in "The Country Dressmaker," Johnny Baccach in "The Unicorn from the Stars," the Wandering SongMaker in "Dervorgilla" etc.; in 1908 was engaged by Charles Frohman to produce a repertory of Irish plays in New York and Chicago, making his first appearance in New York at the Savoy Theatre, 18th Feb., 1908, as The Tramp in "A Pot of Broth"; at the Aldwich, London, 2nd March 1909, played Holt St. John in "What the Public Wants"; then toured as Matthew Haffigan in "John Bull's Other Island"; at His Majesty's, 1st Feb., 1910, played Conacher O'Rourke in "The O'Flynn"; 28th March, 1910, appeared as Justice Shallow in "The Merry Wives of Windsor"; April, 1910, as Old-Gobbo in "The Merchant of Venice"; at the Coronet, 4th July, 1910, played Desmond McIlsquebaugh in "Society"; at the Gaiety, Manchester, Dec, 1911, played Bo-bo in "Snow White"; at the Court, March, 1912, Mr. Notley in "The Humour of It"; at the Prince's, May, 1912, Crispin in "The Bias of the World"; at the Little May, 1912, Sempronio in "The Spanish Lovers" at Portsmouth, July 1912, played Ham Carve in "The Great Adventure"; at the Apollo, Jan., 1913, Thaddeus Golligher in "General John Regan"; at the Hudson Theatre, New York, Nov., 1913, appeared in the same part; on his return to London, appeared at the Court Theatre, March, 1914, as Mick Hegarty in "On the Road to Cork"; at the Savoy, May, 1914, played Mr. Hogan in "Break the Walls Down"; during 1915, toured as Inspector Trippett in "A Little Bit of Fluff"; at the New Theatre, June. 1916, played Dennis in "The Riddle"; at the same Theatre, Sept. 1917, O'Dwyer in "Trelawney of the Wells"; since that date has devoted himself to the producing of plays, and in 1920-21, was producer at the Nottingham Repertory Theatre. Recn.: landscape painting; son of William P. Fay and Martha Dowling; b. in Dublin, 12th Nov., 1872; m. Bridget O'Dempsey. Address: Nottingham Repertory Theatre, Nottingham.