Comic, singer, dancer, interlocutor, pantomime dame, sketch artist, stage manager, manager, entrepreneur, writer.
Martyn Hagan's early career saw him associated with such troupes and managers as Hiscocks' Federal Minstrels, John F. Sheridan, Rose Clifford's Bohemian Musical Comedy Co, the Faust Family and Frank Smith. In the late 1880s he co-founded the XLCR Minstrel and Burlesque Company with Charlie Fanning (1888) and Hagan, Buckley and Leston's Minstrels (1889). During the early 1890s he was associated with Dan Tracey, George Rignold, George Coppin, Harry Barrington and Williamson and Musgrove among others. From 1895 he and his wife Lucy Fraser toured a society sketch act with various organisations including the McLean/Hagan Gaiety Company, Harry Rickards and the Martyn Hagan Musical Comedy Co (1901). They were later engaged by Percy Dix (1903-1904), Frank M. Clark (ca.1905) and the People's Concerts in Melbourne (ca.1910-1911).
Hagan and Fraser left Australia in 1912, spending the next 18 years working on variety circuits around the world, including the UK, USA and Asia. Three sons, Vic, Will and Jack also established long careers in the entertainment industry (both in Australia and overseas). Hagan and Fraser returned to Australia in 1929 still as variety performers. They are believed to have retired from full time engagements sometime during the early 1930s.
[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
