Romeo Coates: A Portrait of Failure

Synopsis: Portrait written by Edith Sitwell of would-be-actor and English eccentric Robert ‘Romeo’ Coates, also known as Cock-a-doodle-doo Coates. Son of a West Indian millionaire, Coates arrived in England with an ambition to play Romeo. He eventually succeeded in drawing the attention of the manager of the Theatre Royal and began to appear in plays in 1809 - in a costume of his own design. The costume had a flowing cloak with sequins, red pantaloons, a large cravat and a plumed hat - not to mention dozens of diamonds. Coates became famous for his histrionic extravagances. At the end of his first appearance as Romeo, for instance, he apparently came back in with a crowbar and tried to pry open Capulet’s tomb. His fame spread and people packed at the theatre just to laugh at him. The broadcast, adapted and produced by Stephen Potter, follows Coates’ career up to his tragic death after a street accident with a hansom, at the age of seventy-six.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Radio
Transmission details: 23 Feb 1939 at 20:00 (Channel: BBC Regional Programme)
Duration: 30 mins
Availability: No copy extant