West Digges

West Digges playing Sir John Brute in The Provoked Wife

West Digges (1720–1786) was an English actor who made his first stage appearance in Dublin in 1749 as Jaffier in Venice Preserv'd; and both there and in Edinburgh until 1764 he acted in many tragic roles with success. He was the original "young Norval" in John Home's Douglas (1756). His first London appearance was as Cato at the Haymarket Theatre in 1777, and he afterwards played King Lear, Macbeth, Shylock and Wolsey.

He was a friend and associate of James Boswell who much admired him.

He created the title role in the opera The Baron Kinkvervankotsdorsprakingatchdern.[1] In 1781 he returned to Dublin and retired in 1784.[2]

The actress Fanny Fleming was said to be a granddaughter.[3]

Notes

  1. ^ Highfill, Jr., Philip H.; Burnim, Kalman A.; Langhans, Edward A. (1975). "West Dudley Digges". A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660–1800. Vol. 4. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press. pp. 401–411, at 409. ISBN 080930693X. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  2. ^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Digges, West". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 268.
  3. ^ Gilliland, J. "Fleming, Fanny". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9692. (Subscription, Wikipedia Library access or UK public library membership required.)


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