Artist Profile Stella Gastelle
Stella Gastelle (1869–1936) was an English actress and singer whose career encompassed musical theatre, light opera and pantomime in Britain and Australia. She became particularly associated with the theatrical tradition of the principal boy, in which a female performer played the young male hero in pantomime.
Born in Sunderland, England, in 1869, Gastelle developed an interest in theatre from an early age and participated in amateur theatricals in her hometown before establishing a professional career. She subsequently worked in London and throughout the English provinces before being engaged to perform in Australia.
Gastelle’s career is notable for the number of male theatrical characters she portrayed. Before and during her Australian career, she appeared as characters including Aladdin, Oberine, Robinson Crusoe and Jack, adopting the costume, movement and stage conventions traditionally associated with the principal-boy role.
Her Australian career began in 1908, when she joined the J. C. Williamson organisation. Her most significant Australian male performance was the role of Jack in the pantomime Jack and Jill, in which she was presented as the production’s principal boy.
Early Career
Gastelle’s professional career developed across musical comedy, light opera and pantomime. Before travelling to Australia, she had established herself as an experienced performer in British theatre.
Among her early theatrical work was the English production of La Poupée, the opéra comique by Edmond Audran, performed in London at the Prince of Wales Theatre during the late 1890s.
Pantomime subsequently became an important part of Gastelle’s career. She developed particular experience in principal-boy roles, a major convention of British pantomime in which women regularly portrayed youthful male heroes.
Her earlier male and principal-boy performances included:
- Aladdin — Newcastle upon Tyne
- Aladdin — Glasgow
- Oberine — Liverpool pantomime
- The Forty Thieves — London
- Robinson Crusoe — London
These roles established Gastelle as an experienced performer in theatrical male characterisation before her arrival in Australia.
Australian Career
1908 — Arrival in Australia
Gastelle travelled to Australia in 1908 under engagement to the J. C. Williamson organisation.
Her arrival brought an established British musical-comedy and pantomime performer into the Australian theatrical circuit. Her previous experience in La Poupée and British pantomime formed part of her professional reputation.
The Australian period of her career is particularly significant for the documentation of her performances as male characters.
1908 — Jack in Jack and Jill, Melbourne
Gastelle’s principal Australian male role was Jack in J. Hickory Wood’s pantomime Jack and Jill, produced by J. C. Williamson’s Musical Comedy Company.
The production opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, on 19 December 1908.
Gastelle played Jack, while Fanny Dango played Jill. Gastelle was presented as the production’s principal boy.
Performance details
Production: Jack and Jill
Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne
Opening: 19 December 1908
Character: Jack
Performer: Stella Gastelle
Theatrical role: Principal boy
Genre: Pantomime / musical theatre
Performance type: Female performer portraying a male character
Company: J. C. Williamson’s Musical Comedy Company
The role incorporated the established conventions of the principal-boy tradition, including male characterisation, theatrical costume, comedy, singing, dancing, movement and spectacle.
Contemporary theatrical descriptions associated Gastelle with male pantomime costume, including the traditional “doublet and hose” associated with the principal-boy character.
Gastelle also performed musical numbers during the production, including “My Starlight Maid.” She appeared with Fanny Dango in the duet “When You Steal a Kiss or Two.”
1909 — Jack in Jack and Jill, Sydney
Following the Melbourne season, Jack and Jill continued its Australian tour and was presented at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney.
Gastelle continued in the role of Jack and remained the production’s principal boy.
Performance details
Production: Jack and Jill
Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney
Year: 1909
Character: Jack
Performer: Stella Gastelle
Theatrical role: Principal boy
Genre: Pantomime / musical theatre
Performance type: Female performer portraying a male character
Company: J. C. Williamson
The Sydney engagement represents the continuation of Gastelle’s documented Australian performance as the male character Jack.
Other Male Roles
Gastelle’s Australian appearance as Jack formed part of a much longer history of male theatrical performance.
Before coming to Australia, she had performed principal-boy and other male roles including:
- Aladdin — Newcastle upon Tyne
- Aladdin — Glasgow
- Oberine — Liverpool
- The Forty Thieves — London
- Robinson Crusoe — London
These performances demonstrate that her portrayal of Jack was consistent with an established part of her professional repertoire.
Her career was not exclusively devoted to male roles. She also performed conventional female characters in musical theatre and other theatrical productions. Individual performances should therefore be considered according to the specific production and role.
References
Evening Post. (1908, November 28). Mimes and music. National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past.
Evening Star. (1908, December 26). Footlight flashes. National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past.
Evening Post. (1909, September 3). Entertainments. National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past.
New Zealand Herald. (1909, August 7). “Jack and Jill.” National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past.
New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review. (1909, August 12). “Jack” off the stage: The principal boy in “Jack and Jill”—Miss Stella Gastelle’s story. National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past.
Otago Witness. (1908, December 30). Stage gossip. National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past.
Otago Witness. (1908, December 16). [Theatrical and pantomime news]. National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past.
Wanganui Chronicle. (1909, August 26). “Jack and Jill.” National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past.
State Library of New South Wales. (n.d.). Collection of theatre magazines and theatre programs from J. C. Williamson Ltd.: Box 10: Melbourne & Brisbane theatres. State Library of NSW Content Lists
State Library of New South Wales. (n.d.). Collection of theatre programs from Her Majesty’s Theatre: Box 7: I–K. State Library of NSW Content Lists
Theatre Heritage Australia. (n.d.). Fanny Dango—The soubrette’s stage career in Australia (Part 2). Theatre Heritage Australia.
J. C. Williamson Ltd. (1908). Jack and Jill [Theatre programme]. J. C. Williamson theatre-programme collection, State Library of New South Wales. State Library of NSW Content Lists
J. C. Williamson Ltd. (1909). Jack and Jill [Theatre programme]. Her Majesty’s Theatre collection, State Library of New South Wales. State Library of NSW Content Lists
National Portrait Gallery. (n.d.). Stella Gastelle. National Portrait Gallery, London.
