Zena Dare

Zena Dare (1887-1975) [1] was a British singer and actress.

Biography

Born Florence Hariette Zena Dones in Chelsea, London, on 4 February 1887, the oldest of three children. Her sister, Phyllis also became a well-known musical comedy actress, performing as Phyllis Dare.

Making her first appearance on stage in 1899, in Babes in the Wood (performing under her real name Florence Dones)m she went on to a successful career on stage and film, spanning more than six decades, especially becoming famous for her performances in Edwardian musical comedy and other musical theatre and comedic plays in the first half of the 20th century.

Besides her acting, she also formed her own production company in 1928, going on tour with it, a year later, took over the management of the Haymarket Theatre.

She passed away on 11 March 1975.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

She toured South Africa on a number of occasions and was seen by André Huguenet as a schoolboy in Bloemfontein, probably during her 1928-1929 tour with Ben Webster ( 1864–1947), their repertoire consisting of The High Road, The Trial of Mary Dugan, The Squeaker, and Aren't We All?.

In 1947-48 she toured with Ivor Novello's Perchance to Dream and in 1953 with his King's Rhapsody (also featuring Barry Sinclair, Olive Gilbert, Muriel Barron and Anthony Farmer.)