 Charles Herbert Workman was born in Bootle, on the outskirts of Liverpool, Lancashire, and studied singing under his brother, Albert Edward Workman, in Liverpool.A newcomer to the stage, he joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1894 as Calynx in a provincial tour of "Utopia, Limited".In 1895, he also played the roles of Pedrillo in "The Chieftain", Mr. Bunthorne's Solicitor in "Patience" and Pennyfather in "After All!