Bancroft

Bancroft, two English actors, who were responsible for several important reforms of theatre production in the mid-19th century.

(1839-1921) made her debut as Marie Wilton in London in 1856, and quickly became a popular burlesque performer. In 1865 Wilton formed her own company at the Prince of Wales's, which then became one of London's most popular theatres.

(1841-1926) made his debut in 1861 in the provinces. After his marriage to Marie Wilton in 1867, the Bancrofts' influence on the English stage soared. They helped improve the economic situation of English actors by paying higher salaries. They also championed the designs for realistic scenery of English impresario Lucia Elizabeth Vestris. Most important, however, was their pivotal role in the shift from the staging of melodrama and burlesque to comedies of manners and more serious drama.