THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Lorna Pobjoy as Giulia in The Gondoliers

Lorna Pobjoy (1951-56)

[Born c.1926, died Sedgefield, South Africa Jun 2005]

Lorna M. Pobjoy joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company chorus in December 1951. She took over the small part of Giulia in The Gondoliers in August 1952, and appeared on occasion as Peep-Bo in The Mikado in the 1954-55 and 1955-56 seasons. She left the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in June 1956.

Miss Pobjoy spent a total of fourteen years in the theatre with traveling repertory companies. She then quit the theatre for a new care as a midwife, and moved to South Africa. In her new homeland, she was to become well known as an artist. In 1998 Miss Pobjoy published a nostalgic account of her experiences in the theatre ("Over the Footlights and Far Away," London, Tipol), with illustrations by fellow D'Oyly Carter Cynthia Morey.

Her life came to a tragic end in late June 2005 when she was found murdered in her townhome, a victim of an apparent robbery as well. Three suspects were apprehended a few days later and are currently awaiting trial.




Page modified August 16, 2005 © 2001-05 David Stone