Nancy Price (1880-1970) in the 1900's. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
| Nancy Price | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Lilian Nancy Bache Price February 3 1880 Kinver, Staffordshire, England |
| Died |
March 31 1970 (aged 90) Worthing, England |
| Spouse | Charles Maude |
Nancy Price CBE (3 February 1880 - 31 March 1970), was an English poet, prose author, stage and screen actress, and director.
Life[]
Family, youth, education[]
Nancy Price was born on February 3, 1880 in Kinver, Worcestershire, England.[1] Christened Lilian Nancy Bache Price in Kinvern, Staffordshire, England, in 1887, she was the daughter of Sarah (Mannix) and William Henry Price, a retired farmer. Her mother was the granddaughter of Sir Henry Mannix.
After schooling in her home village and then in nearby Malvern Wells, Price decided at an early age to become an actress.
She married actor Charles Maude on 17 May 1907, and they were together until his death in 1943. Their daughter Joan Maude also went on to become an actress. Soon after her daughter was born Price made the village of Findon in West Sussex her home, living in a cottage called 'Arcana' in Heather lane on the Downs.[2] Findon remained her home until her death in 1970.
Career[]
While it is convenient to separate Price's career into 3 distinct areas – stage, screen, and writing – it is worth noting that apart from her early career where she was just acting on stage, and her late career where she was just writing, for a period of 40 years she was engaged in all three.
Theatre[]
Her acting career began in a repertory theatre company before progressing to the London stage, silent films, talkies and finally television. In addition to appearing on stage she became involved in theatre production and was a founder of the People's Theatre.
Price joined F.R. Benson's theatre company while still at school. The company specialised in Shakespeare's plays and toured extensively in the provinces. Her earliest big break came when she caught the attention of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who cast her as Calypso in Stephen Phillips's production of Ulysses at Her Majesty's Theatre London in 1902, a role in which she enjoyed great success.[3] The part of Hilda Gunning was written for her by A.W. Pinero in Letty (1904), a role about which theatre critic J.T. Grein commented: "In Letty, while others enhanced their fame, Miss Nancy Price, in the part of Hilda, the shop-girl, made her name. If we read the character aright, Miss Price realised it well-nigh to perfection".[4]
In 1909 she appeared as Mrs. D'Aquila in George Dance's production of The Whip at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. She joined Edith Craig's Pioneer Players at the Kingsway Theatre in 1911 for a performance of Christopher St. John's The First Actress. In March 1912 she appeared as India in Sir Edward Elgar's Imperial masque, The Crown of India, at the London Coliseum.
Together with the Dutch-born theatre impresario J.T. Grein, Price founded the People's National Theatre in 1930. Their earliest production was The Man from Blankleys by F. Anstey at the Fortune Theatre.[5] When Grein left the company Nancy became its honorary director, and in 1932 a permanent home was found at the Little Theatre in the Adelphi with Nancy as manageress. The enterprise came to an end with the destruction of the theatre in 1941.[6] During this period Nancy also established the English School Theatre Movement which toured Shakespeare to working class children.[7]
In 1950 she gave her final stage performance as Martha Blanchard in Eden Phillpotts' The Orange Orchard at the New Lindsey Theatre.[8]
Film[]
UK release poster for Three Weird Sisters
Having established herself as a stage actress in London's West End, Price's first film role was in the 1916 silent film, The Lyons Mail. In the next decade she appeared in a further 8 silent films before her first talkie, The American Prisoner, which was recorded in mono sound in 1929. The last silent film in which she appeared, The Price of Divorce, was adapted by producer Oswald Mitchell to incorporate sound and released under the name Such is the Law.
Recognition[]
In the 1950 King's Birthday Honours List, Price was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the stage.[9]
Publications[]
Poetry[]
- Hurdy-Gurdy. London: Frederick Muller, 1944.
Plays[]
- Whiteoaks: A play (with Mazo de la Roche). London: Macmillan, 1936.
- The Orange Orchard (with Eden Phillpotts). London: Samuel French, 1951.
Novels[]
- Ta-mera. London: Hutchinson, 1950.
Non-fiction[]
- Behind the Night-Light: The by-world of a child of three (by Joan Maude as told to Nancy Price). London : John Murray, 1912.
- A Vagabond’s Way: Haphazard wanderings on the fells (illustrations by A.S. Hartrick). London: John Murray, 1914; London: G. Allen & Unwin, 1936.
- Shadows on the Hills: On the English Lake District. London: Gollancz, 1935.
- The Gull’s Way: An account of a cruise along the east coast of England. London: Gollancz, 1937.
- Nettles and Docks (essays). London: G. Allen & Unwin, 1940.
- Jack by the Hedge, etc.. London : Frederick Muller, 1942.
- I had a Comrade, “Buddy”. London: G. Allen & Unwin, 1944.
- Tails and Tales: On dogs. London: Gollancz, 1945.
- Where the Skies Unfold (essays). Birmingham, UK: George Ronald, 1947.
- Wonder of Wings: A book about birds. London: Gollancz, 1947.
- Acquainted with the Night: A book of dreams (illustrated by Michael Rothenstein). Oxford, UK: George Ronald, 1949.
- Bright Pinions: On parrots. Oxford, UK: George Ronald, 1952.
- Feathered Outlaws. London: Henry E. Walter, 1953.
- In Praise of Trees: An anthology for friends. London: Frederick Muller, 1953.
- Into an Hour-Glass (autobiography). London : Museum Press, 1953.
- Pagan’s Progress: High days and holy days. London: Museum Press, 1954.
- The Heart of a Vagabond: On country life in Sussex. London: Museum Press, 1955.
- I Watch and Listen: A book mainly concerned with the courtship and song of birds. (London : Bodley Head, 1957.
- Winged Builders: A book of bird lore, chiefly concerned with the nesting, building and family habits of British birds. London: George Ronald, 1959.
- Each in his own way! Personalities I have valued, selected from my album of memories (with woodcuts by William Wood). London: Frederick Muller, 1960.
Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy WorldCat.[10]
Theatre Performances[]
| Season | Play Title | Theatre | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | Pericles | Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Stratford Upon Avon | Diana | |
| 1900 | Macbeth | Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Stratford Upon Avon | Hecate | |
| 1901–1902 | Ulysses | Her Majesty's Theatre London | Calypso | |
| 1902–1903 | The Eternal City | His Majesty's Theatre London | Princess Bellini | Dramatisation of Hall Caine's novel of the same name |
| 1903 | Em'ly | Adelphi Theatre London | Rosa Dartle | |
| 1903 | A Snug Little Kingdom | Royalty Theatre London | Sister Hope | |
| 1903 | The Two Mr. Wetherbys | Imperial Theatre London | Constantia | Stage Society production of St. John Hankin's first play |
| 1903–1904 | Letty | Duke of York's Theatre London | Hilda Gunning | |
| 1908–1909 | A Modern Aspasia | The Aldwych Theatre London | Muriel Meredith | Play by Hamilton Fyfe, cast included her husband Charles Maude |
| 1909 | One of the Best | The Aldwych Theatre London | Esther Coventry | Play by Seymour Hicks |
| 1909 | The Fountain | The Aldwych Theatre London | Dinah Kippin | Play by George Calderon |
| 1909–1910 | The Whip | Theatre Royal, Drury Lane | Mrs. D'Aquila | |
| 1910–1911 | Vision Of Delight | His Majesty's Theatre London | Play written by Ben Jonson | |
| 1911 | The First Actress | The Kingsway Theatre London | Margaret Hughes | |
| 1911 | The Merchant of Venice | Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Stratford Upon Avon | Portia | |
| 1915–1916 | Richard III | His Majesty's Theatre London | ||
| 1920–1921 | Chu Chin Chow | Prince's Theatre Bristol | ||
| 1923 | Outward Bound | Everyman Theatre London | Play by Sutton Vane | |
| 1923–1924 | Ambush | Garrick Theatre London | ||
| 1925 | Enrico IV (Henry IV) | |||
| 1925 | And That's the Truth (If You Think it is) | Lyric, Hammersmith Theatre London | Signora Frola | Based on play Così è (se vi pare) by Luigi Pirandello |
| 1925 | Gloriana | Little Theatre in the Adelphi London | Princess Elizabeth | |
| 1929–1930 | Belle: or What's the Bother? | Prince Of Wales Theatre London | ||
| 1931 | The Silver Box | Fortune Theatre London | Mrs. Jones | Play written by John Galsworthy |
| 1934 | Nurse Cavell | Vaudeville Theatre London | Edith Cavell | |
| 1941–1942 | Whiteoaks | Theatre Royal, Bath | ||
| 1943 | Vintage Wine | Grand Theatre, Blackpool | Madame Popinot | |
| 1943–1944 | John Gabriel Borkman | The Playhouse Theatre Liverpool | ||
| 1944–1945 | Lisa | The Playhouse Theatre Liverpool | ||
| 1950 | The Orange Orchard | New Lindsey Theatre, London | Martha Blanchard |
Films[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | The Lyons Mail | ||
| 1921 | Belphegor the Mountebank | Countess de Blangy | |
| 1923 | Bonnie Prince Charlie | Lady Kingsburgh | Appearing alongside Ivor Novello |
| 1923 | The Woman Who Obeyed | Governess | |
| 1923 | Comin' Thro' the Rye | Mrs. Titmouse | |
| 1923 | Love, Life and Laughter | Balloon blowers wife's friend | |
| 1927 | Huntingtower | Mrs. Moran | Based on novel by John Buchan |
| 1928 | His House in Order | Lady Ridgeley | |
| 1928 | The Price of Divorce | released as Such is the Law | |
| 1929 | The American Prisoner | Lovey Lee | |
| 1930 | The Loves of Robert Burns | Posie Nancy | |
| 1930 | Such Is the Law | Aunt | |
| 1931 | The Speckled Band | Mrs. Staunton | Early Sherlock Holmes film |
| 1932 | Down Our Street | Annie Collins | |
| 1934 | The Crucifix | Miss Bryany | |
| 1939 | The Stars Look Down | Martha Fenwick | Adapted by A.J.Cronin |
| 1939 | Dead Man's Shoes | Madame Pelletier | Roddy McDowell in an early role |
| 1942 | Secret Mission | Violette, housekeeper | |
| 1944 | Madonna of the Seven Moons | Mama Barucci | Produced by Gainsborough Pictures |
| 1945 | I Know Where I'm Going! | Mrs. Crozier | Petula Clark in an early role |
| 1945 | I Live in Grosvenor Square | Mrs. Wilson | |
| 1946 | Carnival | Mrs. Trewhella | |
| 1947 | Master of Bankdam | Lydia Crowther | Nicholas Parsons in a minor role |
| 1948 | The Three Weird Sisters | Gertrude Morgan-Vaughan | Screenplay co-written by Dylan Thomas |
| 1950 | The Naked Heart | Theresa Suprenant | Film also known as Maria Chapdelaine |
| 1952 | Mandy | Jane Ellis | Distributed by Ealing Studios |
Television[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Will Shakespeare | Queen Victoria | BBC production |
| 1950 | The Silver Box | BBC production based on a play by John Galsworthy | |
| 1950 | Thérèse Raquin | Madame Raquin | BBC production based on novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola |
| 1950 | The Orange Orchard | Martha Blanchard | BBC production |
| 1951 | Whiteoaks | Grandma Adeline Whiteoak | BBC production |
See also[]
References[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Nancy Price, Internet Movie Database. Web, Feb. 11, 2021.
- ↑ http://www.findonvillage.com/0361_margot_and_nancy.htm
- ↑ http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-PriceLilianNancyBache.html
- ↑ J.t. Grein (2010). Dramatic Criticism (Volume 5). London: General Books LLC. ISBN 1153970848.
- ↑ http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Fortune.htm
- ↑ Cambridge paperback guide to theatre. Cambridge University Press. 1996. p. 282. ISBN 978-0-521-44654-9. http://books.google.com/books?id=Ubr35UeE-UQC.
- ↑ Gale, Maggie B. (1996). West End women: women and the London stage, 1918-1962. Routledge. p. 64. ISBN 0415084954. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1F_KttO7Gh8C&lpg=PA64&dq=nancy%20price%20actress&pg=PA64#v=onepage&q=nancy%20price%20actress&f=false.
- ↑ http://www.theater-dictionary.com/definition/Lilian-Nancy-Bache-Price.html
- ↑ Template:London Gazette
- ↑ Search results = au:Nancy Price 1880-1970, WorldCat, OCLC Online Computer Library Center Inc. Web, Jan. 18, 2015.
External links[]
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