Entrepreneurial partnership.
Percy St John and James Wilkinson formed a brief alliance sometime in early 1892, founding a burlesque and vaudeville company that they opened at the Theatre Royal, Brisbane, sometime around June/July. The St John and Wilkinson Comedy and Burlesque Company repertoire comprised a selection of burlesques, farces, and comedies, in addition to variety-style performances. The week beginning 29 July 1892 included, for example, 'The pleasing comedy entitled The Admiral, followed by a musical olio, [with] the whole to conclude with the world-famed farcical comedy The Steeplechase' (Brisbane Courier 29 July 1892, p.2). The company also revived J. C. Williamson's most famous creation, Struck Oil (for the 16 July production, St John appeared in the role of Deacon Skinner). Struck Oil was revived by St John and Wilkinson on a number of occasions through until 1893, at both the Gaiety Theatre and Theatre Royal.
St John turned to solo management sometime later in 1892, taking up the lease of the Theatre Royal, where he based himself while also conducting tours of regional Queensland.
