My buddy Jim Davis, who has died aged 74, was an internationally revered theatre historian, inspirational lecturer and a number one authority on Nineteenth-century theatre. From 2004 to 2009 he was head of theatre and efficiency research on the College of Warwick, the place he established the division’s status for excellence.
Jim revealed extensively and to vital acclaim. His most up-to-date guide, Comedian Performing and Portraiture in Late-Georgian and Regency England (2015), received the Theatre and Efficiency Analysis Affiliation David Bradbury award in 2017. Jim was joint creator, with Victor Emeljanow, of Reflecting the Viewers, London Theatre Going, 1840-1880, which was awarded the 2001 Theatre E book prize.
He was born in Bristol and grew up in a modest, hard-working household. His father, Robert, was a technical illustrator on the aviation firm BAC; his mom, Pamela (nee Lynas), was a housewife after marriage. Attending Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital college within the metropolis, Jim confirmed an curiosity in theatre from an early age, and studied English at Keble School, Oxford, afterwards finishing a PhD on the comedian actor John Liston on the College of Exeter. He taught first at a tutorial faculty in London after which spent 10 years lecturing in English and drama at Whitelands School, now the College of Roehampton. It was in London in 1975 that I met Jim.
Jim was a supply of inspiration to pals, household, college students and colleagues. He spent 18 years from 1985 on the College of New South Wales, in Sydney, the place he turned head of the college of theatre, movie and dance, and president of the Australasian Drama Research Affiliation.
In 2004 he returned to the UK on his appointment as professor of theatre and head of division at Warwick. He was described by colleagues as a beautiful mentor with seemingly boundless power. College students had been inspired to be bold, and Jim labored arduous to allow them to flourish. He remained within the division, on diminished hours, to focus on supervising MA and PhD college students and on specialist initiatives, till the top of his life.
Jim’s different books included Dickensian Dramas (2017), European Theatre Efficiency Follow 1750-1900 (2014) and Victorian Pantomime (2010). He additionally contributed chapters to a number of volumes, together with The Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre and Efficiency (2003) and The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Stage Actors and Performing (2015).
A champion for theatre historiography, making hyperlinks throughout the disciplines significantly with visible arts and fashionable tradition, Jim had a uncommon capacity to make his analysis resonate with non-academics and be related to up to date society. Certainly one of his pals, the TV author Andrew Davies, remembers “lengthy bibulous lunches discussing Dickens, Could Queens and Danny La Rue.”
At Christmas Jim could be approached by radio stations for his views on pantomime. In 2012 he made an look on an episode of Who Do You Suppose You Are?, helping the comic John Bishop to grasp his great-great-grandfather’s background in theatre.
Jim had two daughters, Catherine and Helen, from his marriage to Jane Rogers, from whom later he was divorced. He’s survived by his youngsters, three grandchildren and by his youthful brother Geoffrey.
