 He began writing for the stage, and in 1873 his "comedietta" "Rosebud's Rose" was presented by an amateur company in Bournemouth.He wrote his first burlesque, "Back from India", in 1879 under the aegis of German Reed's management at St. George's Hall.The piece, with music by Cotsford Dick, was judged a "decided success" by "The Era".