John Courtney (playwright)


John Courtney was a Victorian playwright, dramatic actor, and comedian. Courtney was the stage name of John Fuller. He wrote over 60 plays, including the popular dramas Time Tries All first performed in 1848, which attained great success around the UK and also in the US from the 1850s to at least the 1880s, and Eustice Baudin, which attained even greater success in the USA through to at least the 1890s. He wrote the first theatrical adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre which was rediscovered in 2009. One of his early acting performances was in 1829 as Colonel Freelove in The Day after the Wedding or A Wife's First Lesson adapted by Maria Theresa Kemble from the original French comedy.

Life and work

John Courtney was born at St James’s, Westminster on 29 August 1804 as John Fuller but when he became an actor he wished to be known as John Courtney and this was the name he used throughout his life. His death certificate records him as "John Fuller otherwise Courtney" and his descendants have all been Courtneys. He worked as an actor on the London stage between 1829 and 1862. In 1848 Courtney wrote a stage adaptation of Jane Eyre titled Jane Eyre or The Secrets of Thornfield Manor, which was shown at the Victoria Theatre. In 1850 he was employed as a "stock author" for £2 per week by Mr Shepherd of the Surrey Theatre. In 1852 he received expenses for a visit to Paris for the sole purpose of spotting suitable plays for adaptation, for example Old Joe and Young Joe. According to The Era, the dramatic and music hall newspaper of the time:

he was originally intended for a commercial life, but his love for the Drama speedily changed the directions of his pursuits. For some years he was a light comedian at the Birmingham and other country Theatres, and in 1840 he was engaged by Mr Rouse at the Grecian Saloon. Though he never entirely gave up the Stage as a profession, having been a member of the Haymarket company up to the time of his decease, it will as an industrious playwright for the minor Theatres that his name will be most familiar to the public. For the Surrey and Victoria Theatres he wrote a considerable number of pieces, and his very interesting and original drama of Time Tries All, produced at the Olympic Theatre in 1849, remains one of the most popular products of his industrious pen.

He died at Camberwell and is buried at Camberwell Old Cemetery, London.

Personal life

Courtney married Elizabeth Ann Norman, with whom he had several children: John Fuller Courtney, Albert Fuller Courtney, Rose Helena Courtney, Louise Marian Courtney, Emily Courtney, Clara Courtney, and Alice Courtney.

Plays written by John CourtneyBritish Library Historical Collection. A History of English Drama 1660-1900: Volume IV Late 19th Century Drama 1800-1850 by Allardyce Nicoll p283-4 Volume V 1860 -1900 p326. V & A Theatre Archives

TypeTitleWhere first performedNotes
DramaThe Spirit of the FountainPrincess's Theatre 1843-
FarceBounce or The Ojibbeway Indians or American IndiansPrincess's Theatre Feb 1844-
FarceAged FortyPrincess's Theatre Feb 1844-
FarceTaken by SurprisePrincess's Theatre June 1844-
DramaVanityThe Grecian Theatre 1844-
DramaThe Sisters of Chatillon or A Father's RetributionSurrey Theatre Nov 1844-
DramaThe Bride's Journey or The Escapes of Adelaide of DresdenRoyal Victoria Theatre Apr 1846-
DramaThe Day Dream or The Heart's OrdealCity of London Theatre, Bishopsgate Aug 1846-
DramaClarissa HarlowePrincess's Theatre Sept 1846-
DramaThe Marchioness of BrinvilliersRoyal Victoria Theatre 1846-
DramaThe Cook of Kennington or No Followers AllowedRoyal Victoria Theatre 1846-
DramaThe Gunsmith of Orleans or The Dead Woman's SecretRoyal Victoria Theatre Jan 1847-
DramaThe Ship Boy or The White Slave of GuadaloupeRoyal Victoria Theatre 1847-
DramaThe Lighterman of Bankside or The Orphan of BermondseyRoyal Victoria Theatre Jan 1848-
DramaJane Eyre or The Secrets of Thornfield ManorRoyal Victoria Theatre Jan 1848-
DramaJack FrockCity of London Theatre, Bishopsgate Feb 1848-
DramaRose Clinton or The Victim of Circumstantial EvidenceBritannia Theatre, Hoxton Apr 1848-
DramaThe Broken Home or The Artisan's DaughterBritannia Theatre, Hoxton 1848-
DramaThe Road to TransportationBritannia Theatre, Hoxton 1848-
DramaThe Blacksmith of GhentRoyal Victoria Theatre Jun 1848-
DramaLeah and Nathan or Leah, the Jewess of Constantina or The Arab's SacrificeCity of London Theatre, Bishopsgate Jun 1848-
DramaMarion Hazelton or The Child of the WrongedRoyal Victoria Theatre June 1848-
DramaTime Tries AllOlympic Theatre Sep 1848-
DramaFrank Wildeye or The Spendthrift HusbandRoyal Victoria Theatre 1848-
DramaThe Green Hills of SurreyRoyal Victoria Theatre Jan 1849-
DramaThe Heir of Ashmore or Time's StoryRoyal Victoria Theatre Feb 1849-
DramaThe Maid of Velitri or The Last Deed of GarboniRoyal Victoria Theatre Apr 1849-
DramaThe Outcast of Lausanne or Claudine of Switzerland, The Wanderer of the JuraRoyal Victoria Theatre May 1849-
Pictorial DramaThe Soldier's Progress or The Horrors of WarRoyal Victoria Theatre Nov 1849-
DramaHearts at Fault or The Heart TestSurrey Theatre Mar 1850-
FarceThe Two PoltsSurrey Theatre Nov 1850-
DramaBelphegor the ItinerantSurrey Theatre Jan 1851-
DramaThe World's Games or High and LowSurrey Theatre May 1851-
DramaLiving in Glass HousesSurrey Theatre May 1851-
DramaRoland the RiderSurrey Theatre Jun 1851-
DramaThe Magic of LifeSurrey Theatre Jun 1851-
DramaThe Chateau of ValenzaOlympic Theatre Jul 1851-
FarceThe Two BloomersSurrey Theatre Oct 1851-
OperettaThe Charmed HarpSurrey Theatre Aug 1852-
FarceGoing to CremorneSurrey Theatre Oct 1852-
DramaLife Seasons or Hearts and HomesSurrey Theatre Oct 1852-
DramaOff to the DiggingsSurrey Theatre Oct 1852-
DramaUncle Tom's CabinSurrey Theatre Nov 1852-
DramaThe Marriage Day or The Life ChaseSurrey Theatre Nov 1852-
DramaThe Gamblers WifeSurrey Theatre Oct 1853-
DramaOld Joe and Young Joe or The Martini FamilySurrey Theatre Oct 1853-
PantomimeThe Vale of Gem or Harlequin; Sinbad the Sailor or The Fairy of the Coral GrotRoyal Adelphi Theatre, Liverpool Dec 1853-
DramaEustace or Eustace BaudinSurrey Theatre Jan 1854-
DramaThe Sultan and the CzarSurrey Theatre Apr 1854-
DramaDeeds, not Words or The Drooping Flower!Surrey Theatre Jan 1855-
ComedyTricks and TrialsQueen's Theatre, Manchester Mar 1856-
ComedyDouble Faced PeopleTheatre Royal, Haymarket Feb 1857-
Comedy DramaA Wicked WifeTheatre Royal, Haymarket Feb 1857-
DramaThe One Word or Pride and HonourSurrey Theatre Jan 1858-
DramaThe Three Thieves of BucklesburyCity of London Theatre, Bishopsgate Oct 1859-
DramaThe Students or SorrySurrey Theatre Feb 1861-
DramaBattle with the WorldCity of London Theatre, Bishopsgate Nov 1861-
DramaThe Roman NoseCity of London Theatre, Bishopsgate Jul 1863-