Jessie Fraser

Jessie Fraser
Born1801
Died1 July 1875
Occupation(s)Actor, singer and theatre manager
Years active1806 – 1875 (theatre actor)

Jessie Fraser later Jessie Ryder then Jessie Pollock (1801 – 1 July 1875)[1] was a stage actor, singer and theatre manager based in Aberdeen.[1]

Biography

Her father's Theatre Royal is now a church

Little is known about her early life, but in 1812 her father purchased the Theatre Royal in Aberdeen (which has since been converted into a church).[1][2] At the age of 15, she began her stage career in the Theatre Royal, which she was associated with for the majority of her career.[3] She played a number of Scottish heroines in her youth, including Diana Vernon in Rob Roy, Lucy Bertram in Guy Mannering and Amy Robsart in Kenilworth.[1] Later in her career she appeared in the same plays playing other roles, like Helen MacGregor, Meg Merrilies and Queen Elizabeth (in Kenliworth).[1] She also featured in many classic plays, with her favourite role being Lady Macbeth in Macbeth.[1] On her retirement from the stage, she was gifted a life-size portrait of herself playing the character of Lady Macbeth.[3] Throughout her career she performed alongside many popular performers of the 19th century, including William Macready.[1][3]

She was married to Welsh actor-manager Corbet Ryder, who had played the titular character in Rob Roy, from 1818 to his death in 1839.[1][3][4] They founded the Ryder Company, a touring theatre company operating out of Her Majesty's Opera House in Aberdeen (now the Tivoli Theatre), which Jessie managed with her stepson Tom following Corbet's death.[1] She was later married to a member of her company, John Pollock, from 1842 to his death in 1853.[1][3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Campbell, Donald (2006). The biographical dictionary of Scottish women : from the earliest times to 2004. Elizabeth Ewan, Sue Innes, Sian Reynolds, Rose Pipes. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-7486-2660-1. OCLC 367680960.
  2. ^ "Aberdeen Theatres and Halls". arthurlloyd.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e Angus, J. Keith (1878). A Scotch Play-house: Being the Historical Records of the Old Theatre Royal, Marischal Street, Aberdeen. Aberdeen: D. Wyllie. pp. 26–27.
  4. ^ Highfill, Philip H.; Burnim, Kalman A.; Langhans, Edward A. (1973). A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers & Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660–1800. SIU Press. p. 153. ISBN 978-0-8093-1525-3.