Will Catlin’s Pierrots were a well-known sight on the north-east coast, performing on the beaches and their own open-air theatre in Scarborough.
William Fox from Leicester took the name of Will Catlin when he first performed on Scarborough’s sea front in 1894. He was soon exposed to other forms of seaside entertainment including Pierrot troupes, groups of performers dressed in white clown costumes, full makeup and pointed hats.
Two years later his own troupe debuted – Catlin’s Favourite Pierrots.
Catlin’s Pierrots in full costume. Image courtesy of Preston Park Museum.
Pierrots were based on the Italian character of ‘Pedrolino’, a clown who was characterised by his pranks and acrobatic stunts, and who often mimicked others by their facial expressions.
Catlin’s Favourite Pierrots were very hard-working. They all advertised their shows in-person and in full costume and makeup. They had to sell merchandise such as song sheets, postcards and programmes from their own charabanc, an open-topped, horse drawn coach. Their costumes also had to be washed and pressed every night.
When it came to their performances, they walked to the sea front where they had set up a canvas-covered stage and performed at least three times a day to the crowds they had gathered. They performed on Scarborough sea front for many years until Catlin bought an open-air theatre in the town in 1909, named ‘Catlin’s Arcadia’.
Catlin’s Pierrots out of costume. Image courtesy of Preston Park Museum.
Over the years Catlin founded more Pierrot groups down the coast, based in Whitley Bay, Withernsea, Bridlington, Cleethorpes and Great Yarmouth. His Favourite Pierrots became so popular that they once performed in front of King Edward VII at Ruthin Castle in North Wales. As a result of this the group was renamed to ‘Catlin’s Royal Pierrots’.
When Will Catlin died in 1953 at the age of 80 he was called ‘the King of the Pierrots’, and a Pierrot hat made of white flowers was placed on his coffin.
