Theodosia Stirling

Theodosia Stirling or Theodosia Yates Stirling is a name that has been attached to the contralto born Theodosia Yates (1815 – 19 July 1904), who had a considerable career on the Australian stage as, successively, "Mrs Stirling", "Mrs Guerin", and "Mrs Stewart". She is perhaps best known as the mother of Nellie Stewart. Career Stirling was an actor and singer of some note in London before leaving for the colonies in a company recruited by Anne Clarke to perform at the Theatre Royal, Hobart in 1841–42, alongside Jerome Carandini, John Howson and Frank Howson of the celebrated Howson family, and was engaged there for three years. She was described as the prima donna of the Theatre Royal in Tasmania. She and Clarke supplemented their modest door takings by offering musical tuition. She left Tasmania in 1845 and initiated a successful career as an actor and opera singer in Sydney, where she was engaged at the Victoria Theatre. In 1846, she played Arline in Michael Balfe's The Bohemian Girl, which became one of her better-known roles. She was one of few female singers regarded to be able to rival the prima donna Marie Carandini, and their rivalry onstage was reported in the press. After leaving her engagement in Sydney, she started a famed travelling family company with her third husband, which toured Australia and India and in which she played a leading part. They were referred to as the "first family of the Australian stage".