Arthur Stigant

English comedian, pantomime dame, singer, writer (1871-1959) Arthur Stigant initially played “fatboy” roles in pantomimes before getting his first big break in the musical comedy "The Shop Girl" which led to the lead comic role in the London production of "The Geisha". He later worked in musical comedy, pantomime and vaudeville. Stigant came to Australia in 1914 on a six month contract with Hugh J. Ward and remained in the Australsian region until his death. He made his J.C. Williamson’s debut in "Cinderella" (1914) and later featured in "The House That Jack Built" (1916), "Dick Whittington" (1918), "Goody Two Shoes" (1918), and as a comedy character in musicals like "Maid of the Mountains" (1921), "Lilac Time" (1926/1932), "The Student Prince" (1927), and "The Vagabond King" (1928). Stigant also wrote several musical comedies during the late 1910s. He died in Camberwell, Victoria. In an interview published in the West Australian in the early 1930s Stigant records that he spent some six years touring the British music hall circuits (“A Crowded Life.” 21 July 1931, 8). He also claims to have worked in Argentina and South Africa.