Dion Boucicault
1820-1890
Theatre
Dion Boucicault was born in Dublin, Irelandin
1820.  His
mother was from a well-known Irish Protestant family, the
Darleys, not much is known about his father. At a young age
he pursued a career in theatre and at age 16 his first play
A Legend of the Devil's Dyke opened in Brighton,
England. He followed with the successful London Assurance
(1841) and also had success with two adaptations of French
plays. From 1853-1860 he lived in America where he toured
the country and enjoyed great popularity. He was the greatest
dramatist of the Victorian era. He pioneered the role of the
director in the theatre and was responsible for many innovations
in stagecraft. Like P.T. Barnum he was a great showman and
enjoyed great critical success and failure, making and losing
fortunes. Other notable plays of his are The Shaughraun
and The Colleen Bawn.
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