Richard Flexmore

Who was Richard Flexmore?

Richard Flexmore [real name Richard Flexmore Geatter], was a British clown and pantomimist of the Victorian era.

Flexmore was the son of Richard Flexmore Geatter, a well-known dancer who died at an early age. Flexmore was born at Kennington in London on 15 September 1824. At the age of eight he commenced his theatrical career at the Victoria Theatre, where his juvenile drollery soon attracted attention. In 1835 he appeared at a small theatre which then existed in Chelsea in a fantastic piece called ‘The Man in the Moon,’ and danced very effectively a burlesque shadow dance. He subsequently became a pupil of a Mr. Frampton, and showed great aptitude for stage business in his own peculiar line.

As a grotesque dancer his services soon became in request at various theatres, and in 1844 he appeared as the Clown at the Grecian Saloon. The following winter he made his first great hit when taking the part of Clown at the Olympic Theatre, which was then under the management of T. D. Davenport. His wonderful activity and abundant flow of animal spirits quickly became recognisable, and he was then engaged for the Princess's Theatre, where he remained for several seasons.