Synopsis
Composer, dramatist, impresario and South African theatrical pioneer in the English language
First name
William
Middle name
Luscombe
Last name
Searelle
Date of birth
1853
Location of birth
Devonshire, England
Date of death
18-December-1907
Gender
Male
William Luscombe Searelle was born Isaac Israel and later adopted a professional name formed from Luscombe (in South Australia) and an imperfect anagram of “Israel.” As a child he was taken to New Zealand and ran away to sea at the age of thirteen.
Searelle became associated with the theatre in Australia in 1881 and went to London for the production of a two-act comic opera, The wreck of the “Pinafore” the music of which he had composed. The opera ran for 200 nights and it was a success.