Reece, Robert

PLAYWRIGHT, LIBRETTIST (ENGLAND)
BORN 2 May 1838, Barbados, West Indies - DIED 8 Jul 1891, London
GRAVE LOCATION London: Kensal Green Cemetery, Harrow Road, Kensal Green (142/PS (24276))

Robert Reece was the son a barrister of the same name (1808-1874). He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford. He was a student at the Inner Temple but he wasn't called to the bar. From 1861 to 1868 he worked as a clerk.

In the 1860s he started writing comical plays for the theatre. His libretto for Castle Grim" with music by G. Allen was produced at the Royalty Theatre in 1865. He wrote many more pieces for the Royalty Theatre but his work was also staged at other theatres. Between 1872 and 1884 he created fourteen pieces for The Gaiety. The comic opera "Cattarina" with music by Frederic Clay was produced at the Charing Cross Theatre in 1875. His English adaption of "Les cloches de Corneville" was very successful in 1878-1879, running over 700 performances.

In the 1880s his success was over and he struggled. He died in 1891 in London aged 53.

Images

The grave of Robert Reece at Kensal Green Cemetery, London.
Picture by Androom (25 Mar 2016)

 

Sources
Paths of Glory, The Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery, London, 1997
Robert Reece - Wikipedia


Reger, Max

Published: 30 May 2019
Last update: 20 Apr 2022