Katherine Compton

The Times said of her theatrical family: Compton was originally destined for a musical career, but abandoned it and made her first appearance on the stage at the Theatre Royal, Bristol in October 1874 in Mary Scott-Siddons's company, playing Maria in The School for Scandal.

[4] In 1878 she was engaged at the St James's Theatre under Mrs John Wood's management, appearing as Lucy in Such is the Law, Princess Lydia in The Danischeffs and in other plays.

In 1881 she appeared at Toole's Theatre, as Mrs Parminter Blake in Pinero's Imprudence, and in 1884 was at the Globe in the same author's comedy, Low Water.

[5] A turning point in Compton's career came in 1885, with the production of her husband's first play (written in collaboration with Cecil Raleigh), The Great Pink Pearl.

[4] In the last of these her co-star was Charles Hawtrey, and Henry Kemble, Eric Lewis, A. E. Matthews, Frederick Volpe and Arthur Williams were in the cast.