Reeve entered the theatre at Bradford, England in 1849, but spent much of his theatrical life touring in the USA and Australia. In his preface to From Life (1891), he refers to himself as "an actor, writer, manager, and traveller over the greater part of the civilized world". He was also a theatrical collaborator and long standing friend of Wilkie Collins (1884-1889), who was a close friend of Charles Dickens and a prolific and well-known English fiction author. Reeve appeared in Wilkie Collins's dramatic adaptation of The Woman in White, staged at the Olympic Theatre in London. He joined Collins on his reading tour of North America in 1873 and played the role of Fosco for a two-week run at the Broadway Theatre, New York. During an eight year period, Reeve played the role over 1,500 times in England, Canada and the USA.
Following several juvenile roles, Reeve produced his first play, a farce called 'An Australian Hoax', in Plymouth during 1852. An Officer in the 5th Dragoon Guards, it is thought that Reeve may have visited Australia during his early army career, and possibly produced 'An Australian Hoax' in Sydney in 1852. He played mainly comic parts with several provincial companies in England and managed the Theatre Royal Sheffield for three years from 1862. Reeve became the lessee in 1867 and, later, the proprietor of the Theatre Royal Scarborough. Plays - mainly farces - written by Reeve included 'Never Reckon your Chickens', 'Parted', 'The Better Angel', 'I Love You', 'A Match for Mother-in-law' and 'Pantomime for Bluebeard, the Great Bashaw, or, Harlequin Stormcloud, and the Fairy Starlight Queen'. Some of his English plays were published by Samuel French, such as Won at Last! (1869), A Supper Gratis, or, an Impudent Intruder (1869), Pyke O'Callaghan, or, The Irish Patriot (1870), and Parted: An English Love Story (1874). He also published a novel while in England, Sundered Lives (1871).
From 1879 to 1900 Reeve was in Australia, living mainly in Adelaide, where he became a prominent figure in South Australian society. He was the vice-president of the South Australian University Shakespearean Society, and managed and leased theatres. He wrote and produced his own plays, including an adaptation of the novel Policy and Passion by Rosa Praed, and wrote short stories for the Australasian. Reeve also produced his own adaptation of 'The Woman in White' with the Majeroni Company at the Bijou Theatre in Melbourne from 6-16 August 1887. On July 30th 1887, 'Only Dust', by Reeve with additions by Signor Majeroni was also performed by the Majeroni Company at the theatre. The Argus said: "Quiet comedy has always suited Mr. Wybert Reeve, and he succeeds admirably in the delineation of Dr. Bolusi." Reeve also produced 'The Crushed Tragedian' at the Bijou, an adaptation of the H.J. Byron comedy 'The Prompter's Box'.
Reeve also dramatised works for the stage including, at Collins's request, 'No Name'. Although never staged in England, the play was performed in both New York and Melbourne - in the latter case it had the new title 'Great Temptation' for its production during 1879. Collins maintained a regular correspondence with him in Australia and in December 1883 sent him a New Year card of English oaks adding the note "a little bit of English landscape, my Dear Reeve, to remind you of the old country and this old friend."
(Source: Pascoe, Charles Eyre, The Dramatic List : A Record of the Principal Performances of Living Actors and Actresses on the British Stage, London Hardwicke and Bogue, 1879.)
