Whilst a life in the halls enabled many working class performers to earn far more money than they would have imagined, life was not easy. Many music hall stars died young – some of those listed below were dead by their mid-forties. A life on stage may have looked glamorous but that was far from the case, it implied fast living, late nights, alcohol and a punishing schedule of work. With the advent of the variety circuits, performers were expected to work six days out of seven and travel on the seventh.

Click on the photographs to meet some of the music hall stars of the era.