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Will Evans was born on the 29th May 1866, and became a well known name in Music Hall and Pantomime in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He was the son of Fred Evans, a clown in the Grimaldi tradition, and made his first appearance with his father when aged just six years old in a production of 'Robinson Crusoe' at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1881.

After this he went on tour with his father's comedy company for many years before returning to London in 1890 to perform in the Music Halls with his wife Ada Luxmore. After his wife died he carried on as a solo artiste and comedian. His specialty was playing in comic domestic dramas, now better known as farces, the most popular of which were `Building a Chicken House', 'Whitewashing the Ceiling', and 'Papering a House'. He was often to be seen in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane's regular Christmas Pantomimes.

Right - Will Evans in costume as the Baroness in a Drury Lane Pantomine in 1920 - Kindly sent in by his Grandson Bill Evans. Signature reads: Yours sincerly Will Evans as Baroness Drury Lane 1919 - 20.

Evans was also the co writer of a play called 'Tons of Money' along with Archibald Pechey. The play was written in 1914 but was not seen on stage until 1922 at the first Shaftesbury Theatre in London. It subsequently transferred to the Aldwych Theatre where it became the first of a series of successful farces.

Left - Stanley Lupino, Lily Long, and Will Evans posing for the camera and in costume for the Drury Lane pantomime 'Babes in the Wood' in 1918 - Kindly sent in by Will Evans' grandson Bill Evans.

Evans wrote many of his own songs and sketches for his appearances in the Music Halls and became a much loved part of the Music Hall scene.

Will Evans died in 1931.

Note that in several books Will Evans' date of birth is stated as being 1875, however, his actual date of birth, as stated on his birth certificate which his grandson Bill Evans has a copy of, is stated as the 29th May 1866.