Difference between revisions of "Gwen ffrangçon-Davies"
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| − | + | '''Gwen ffrangçon-Davies''' (1891-1992) was a distinguished actress, singer, and theatrical entrepreneur. (Her name also written [[Gwen Ffrangçon-Davies]]). [TH, JH, SH] | |
| − | Born in London on 25 January 1891, the only daughter of David ffrangcon-Davies, a Welsh operatic baritone | + | == Biography == |
| + | Born in London on 25 January 1891, the only daughter of David ffrangcon-Davies, a Welsh operatic baritone. | ||
| − | She | + | She died in January 1992 in London at the age of 101. |
| − | + | === Training === | |
| + | She was trained by Mrs L.M. Hicks and Agnes Platt. | ||
| − | [ | + | === Career === |
| + | Gwen began as an operatic singer, then joined the Old Vic, for which her first stage appearance was in ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''. She went on to Birmingham Rep as a dramatic actress, also working in the West End and at the Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-on-Avon. In 1924, she played Juliet in ''Romeo and Juliet'' and Queen Anne in ''Richard of Bordeaux'' in 1934, both with John Gielgud, ''[[Henry V]] '' (with Ivor Novello, 1934), ''Gas Light'' (1934) and ''Macbeth'' (1942). | ||
| + | She moved to South Africa in 1940 with [[Marda Vanne]] and became a director of the resuscitated [[Pretoria Repertory Theatre]]. ''[[Twelfth Night]]'' 1940/41. | ||
| − | == | + | In 1942 they formed the [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company]] and toured the country to present fine classical and modern productions. (See [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company]]). |
| + | |||
| + | She returned to Britain in 1946 to continue with a long and distinguished career on the British stage. | ||
| + | |||
| + | She retired from the stage in 1970, but continued to appear on radio and television. She was created a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1991, aged 100, six months before her death at age 101, and made her final acting appearance in a teleplay of the Sherlock Holmes story ''The Master Blackmailer'' opposite Jeremy Brett that same year. Her other films included ''The Witches'' (1966) and ''The Devil Rides Out'' (1968). | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ||
| + | She played leads in and/or directed works such as ''[[Watch on the Rhine]]'' (1943 at the [[Standard Theatre]]), ''[[Flare Path]]'' (194*), ''[[What Every Woman Knows]]'' (194*), ''[[Blithe Spirit]]'' (1944), ''[[Milestones]]'' (194*), ''[[Merry Wives of Windsor]]'' (1945), ''[[The Wind of Heaven]]'' (1946), ''[[A Month in the Country]]'' (1946) her last production before she went back to England. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1943, she had pleaded unsuccessfully for the establishment of a national “Committee for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts”. | ||
| + | |||
| + | After her return to Britain she occasionally returned to work in South Africa, for instance ''[[Macbeth]]'' in Afrikaans, was directed by her in 1950 for the [[National Theatre]]. It was staged at [[His Majest's Theatre]] and starred [[André Huguenet]] and [[Anna Neethling-Pohl]]. Directed ''[[Much Ado about Nothing]]'' for the inauguration of the new [[Johannesburg Repertory Theatre|Reps Theatre]], designed by Manfred Hermer, in 1951. It starred [[Margaret Inglis]] and [[Jack Ralphs]]. Starred in ''[[Waters of the Moon]]'' by N.C. Hunter in 1953. | ||
| + | == Awards, etc == | ||
| − | Hartnoll, 19**; | + | == Sources == |
| + | Hartnoll Phyllis, ''The Oxford Companion to the Theatre'', ? ed., 19**; | ||
| − | Tucker, 1997 | + | [[ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997. |
| − | Du Toit, | + | Du Toit,P.J. 1988. |
Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwen_Ffrangcon-Davies) | Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwen_Ffrangcon-Davies) | ||
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''[[Scenaria]]'' (120), January 1991. | ''[[Scenaria]]'' (120), January 1991. | ||
| − | |||
== Return to == | == Return to == | ||
| + | Return to [[ESAT Personalities F]] | ||
| − | Return to [[ | + | Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]] |
| − | Return to [[ | + | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] |
Return to [[Main Page]] | Return to [[Main Page]] | ||
Revision as of 10:52, 15 November 2016
Gwen ffrangçon-Davies (1891-1992) was a distinguished actress, singer, and theatrical entrepreneur. (Her name also written Gwen Ffrangçon-Davies). [TH, JH, SH]
Contents
Biography
Born in London on 25 January 1891, the only daughter of David ffrangcon-Davies, a Welsh operatic baritone.
She died in January 1992 in London at the age of 101.
Training
She was trained by Mrs L.M. Hicks and Agnes Platt.
Career
Gwen began as an operatic singer, then joined the Old Vic, for which her first stage appearance was in A Midsummer Night's Dream. She went on to Birmingham Rep as a dramatic actress, also working in the West End and at the Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-on-Avon. In 1924, she played Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Queen Anne in Richard of Bordeaux in 1934, both with John Gielgud, Henry V (with Ivor Novello, 1934), Gas Light (1934) and Macbeth (1942).
She moved to South Africa in 1940 with Marda Vanne and became a director of the resuscitated Pretoria Repertory Theatre. Twelfth Night 1940/41.
In 1942 they formed the Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company and toured the country to present fine classical and modern productions. (See Gwen ffrangçon-Davies / Marda Vanne Company).
She returned to Britain in 1946 to continue with a long and distinguished career on the British stage.
She retired from the stage in 1970, but continued to appear on radio and television. She was created a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1991, aged 100, six months before her death at age 101, and made her final acting appearance in a teleplay of the Sherlock Holmes story The Master Blackmailer opposite Jeremy Brett that same year. Her other films included The Witches (1966) and The Devil Rides Out (1968).
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
She played leads in and/or directed works such as Watch on the Rhine (1943 at the Standard Theatre), Flare Path (194*), What Every Woman Knows (194*), Blithe Spirit (1944), Milestones (194*), Merry Wives of Windsor (1945), The Wind of Heaven (1946), A Month in the Country (1946) her last production before she went back to England.
In 1943, she had pleaded unsuccessfully for the establishment of a national “Committee for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts”.
After her return to Britain she occasionally returned to work in South Africa, for instance Macbeth in Afrikaans, was directed by her in 1950 for the National Theatre. It was staged at His Majest's Theatre and starred André Huguenet and Anna Neethling-Pohl. Directed Much Ado about Nothing for the inauguration of the new Reps Theatre, designed by Manfred Hermer, in 1951. It starred Margaret Inglis and Jack Ralphs. Starred in Waters of the Moon by N.C. Hunter in 1953.
Awards, etc
Sources
Hartnoll Phyllis, The Oxford Companion to the Theatre, ? ed., 19**;
Tucker, 1997.
Du Toit,P.J. 1988.
Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwen_Ffrangcon-Davies)
Scenaria (120), January 1991.
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities F
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
