Difference between revisions of "Gwen ffrangçon-Davies"

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FFRANGÇON-DAVIES, Gwen (1891-1992). Distinguished actress, singer, and theatrical entrepreneur. Born in London on 25 January 1891, she was trained by Mrs L.M. Hicks and Agnes Platt. Began as a operatic singer, then joined the Old Vic, for which her first stage appearance was in ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''. 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).  Came to South Africa in 1940 with [[Marda Vanne]] and became a director of the resuscitated [[Pretoria Repertory Theatre]]. * 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 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), **. In 1943, she had pleaded unsuccessfully for the establishment of a national “Committee for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts”. She returned to Britain in 1946 to continue with a long and distinguished career on the British stage, though she occasionally returned to work in South Africa. For instance ''[[Macbeth]]'' (for [[NTO]], 1950), ''[[Much Ado about Nothing]]'' ([[Johannesburg Repertory Society|Johannesburg REPS]] , 1951, for the inauguration of the new [[Johannesburg Repertory Theatre|Reps Theatre]]),  ''[[Waters of the Moon]]'' (for [[Brian Brooke Company]], 1953). 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).
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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]
  
FfRANGÇON-DAVIES, Gwen. Distinguished actress who had a long career on the British stage. Started in opera, before becoming known as a dramatic actress. Performed with all the great actors of her time including John Gielgud. Came to South Africa in 1941 and formed a company with [[Marda Vanne]] that presented plays until 1946. Left South Africa after the war. Died at the age of 101 in 1992. Produced and starred in ''[[Watch on the Rhine]]'' by Lilian Hellman in 1943 at the [[Standard Theatre|Standard]]. Starred in ''[[Blithe Spirit]]'' in 1944 with [[Marda Vanne]], [[Margaret Inglis]] and [[Siegfried Mynhardt]]. Staged ''[[Merry Wives of Windsor]]'' together with [[Marda Vanne]] in 1945, starring [[Wensley Pithey]] as Falstaff. Presented, and starred in Emlyn Williams's ''[[The Wind of Heaven]]'', together with [[Marda Vanne]] in 1946. [[Zoë Randall]], [[Wensley Pithey]] and [[Sidney James]] also starred in this performance. Starred in Turgenev's ''[[A Month in the Country]]'' in 1946 together with [[Marda Vanne]], which was their last production before they went back to England. ''[[Macbeth]]'' in Afrikaans, was directed by Gwen Ffrangçon-Davies in 1950 for the [[National Theatre]]. It was staged at [[His Majesty’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. She died in January 1992 in London at the age of 101.  FFRANGCON-DAVIES, Gwen, ''[[Twelfth Night]]'' & Marda Vanne, 1940/41.
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== Biography ==
 +
Born in London on 25 January 1891, the only daughter of David ffrangcon-Davies, a Welsh operatic baritone.
  
(See Hartnoll, 19**; Tucker, 1997;  Du Toit,  1988, Wikipedia) [TH, JH, SH]
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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).
  
Return to [[ESAT Personalities F]]
+
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 Majesty'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  and produced and played in ''[[The Innocents]]'' in 1953. In 1971 she appeared in ''[[Dear Antoine]]'' for [[CAPAB]].
 +
 
 +
== Awards, etc ==
 +
 
 +
== Sources ==
 +
Hartnoll Phyllis, ''The Oxford Companion to the Theatre'', ? ed., 19**;
 +
 
 +
[[ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|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|South African Theatre Personalities]]
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
 +
 +
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Revision as of 11:00, 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]

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 Majesty'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 and produced and played in The Innocents in 1953. In 1971 she appeared in Dear Antoine for CAPAB.

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