Brandon Thomas (1848-1914) was a playwright, songwriter, and performer whose farce Charley’s Aunt helped him achieve international renown. Born on December 24, 1848 as the first child of Walter Thomas and Hannah Thomas (née Morris), Brandon experienced a childhood of inconsistent financial resources and inconsistent schooling. His father, while a skilled bootmaker, was prone to making rash business endeavors that often left the family financially struggling. By the age of 12, Brandon was removed from school entirely to work as an apprentice at the Liverpool dockyards to provide for his family. His mother ran a small lodging business out of the family’s home, with one of the tenants being than unknown stage performer Henry Irving. Irving’s relationship with the Thomas family would profoundly inspired Brandon to pursue a similar path.

While working clerical jobs for the next decade of his life, Thomas continued to develop his skills as a performer and writer. He caught the attention of William Grimston and Madge Kendal (together known as “the Kendals”), and was recruited into their company at the Court Theatre in 1879. Thomas went on to tour with Kendal Company in America, receiving popular acclaim for his performance in and writing of the burlesque play “A Pantomime Rehearsal”. His magnum opus Charley’s Aunt made its premier at the Theater Royal at Bury St. Edmunds in February, 1892. The first run of the play featured popular London comedian W.S. Penley in the role of “Charley’s Aunt”, becoming an instant hit that met a run of 1,469 performances over the course of 3 years.

Thomas’ marriage to Marguerite Leverson was initially met with great disapproval from Marguerite’s father James Leverson, but the two eventually married on December 22, 1888. In time, the couple would have four children: Amy Marguerite (born 1890), Jimmy (James) Grant (1894), Jevan Roderick (1898), and Silvia Blanche (1905). Tragically, Jimmy died from injuries sustained as a lieutenant in the early months of WWI. Both Amy and Jevan continued to be actively involved in the family’s performing business, and while Silvia was a dancer, actress, and a theatrical manager for an earlier part of her life, she later went on to pursue a career as a journalist at the BBC.