- Nancy Price
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Nancy Price 
Nancy PriceBorn Lilian Nancy Bache Price
3 February 1880
Kinver, Staffordshire, EnglandDied 31 March 1970 (aged 90)
Worthing, EnglandSpouse Charles Maude Nancy Price, CBE (3 February 1880 – 31 March 1970), was an English actress on stage and screen, authoress and theatre director. 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. Whilst it is tempting to separate her career into three 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 forty years she was engaged in all three.
Contents
Personal life
Christened Lilian Nancy Bache Price in Kinver, Staffordshire, England, in 1887, Nancy was the daughter of William Henry Price (a retired farmer) and Sarah Mannix. Her mother was the granddaughter of Sir Henry Mannix. After schooling in her home village and then in nearby Malvern Wells she decided at an early age to become an actress. She married the 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 she made the village of Findon in West Sussex her home, living in a cottage called 'Arcana' in Heather lane on the Downs.[1] Findon remained her home until her death in 1970.
Theatre career
Nancy joined F. R. Benson's theatre company whilst still at school. The company specialised in Shakespeare's plays and toured extensively in the provinces. Her first 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.[2] The part of Hilda Gunning was written for her by A. W. Pinero in Letty (1904)[3], a role in which the 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, Nancy Price founded the People's National Theatre in 1930. Their first 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 productions of Shakespeare plays to working class children.[7]
In the 1950 King's Birthday Honours List Nancy was awarded a CBE for services to the stage.[8] In the same year she gave her final stage performance as Martha Blanchard in Eden Phillpotts' The Orange Orchard at the New Lindsey Theatre.[9]
Theatre Performances
Theatre 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 Appearing alongside Sir John Gielgud 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 Film career
UK release poster for Three Weird Sisters
Having established herself as a stage actress in London's West End, Nancy's first film role was in the black and white, silent film The Lyons Mail. In the next decade she appeared in a further eight 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.
Filmography
Film 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 filmography
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 Bibliography
Plays
- Whiteoaks: A Play (With Mazo de la Roche, Macmillan, 1936)
- The Orange Orchard (With Eden Phillpotts, London: Samuel French, 1951)
Poetry
- Hurdy-Gurdy (London : Frederick Muller, 1944)
Novels
- Ta-mera (London : Hutchinson & Co., 1950)
Essays, memoires and diaries
- Behind the Night-Light: the by-world of a child of three. Described by Joan Maude and faithfully recorded by Nancy Price (London : John Murray, 1912)
- Vagabond’s Way. Haphazard wanderings on the fells ... With illustrations by A. S. Hartrick (London : John Murray, 1914)
- Shadows on the Hills, etc. On the English Lake District. With plates (London : Victor Gollancz, 1935)
- The Gull’s Way. An account of a cruise along the East Coast of England (London : Victor Gollancz, 1937)
- Nettles and Docks, etc. Essays (London : G. Allen & Unwin, 1940)
- Jack by the Hedge, etc. Sketches of country life (London : Frederick Muller, 1942)
- I had a Comrade “Buddy” On the author’s dog (London : G. Allen & Unwin, 1944)
- Tails and Tales. On dogs (London : Victor Gollancz, 1945)
- Where the Skies Unfold, etc. Essays (Birmingham : George Ronald, 1947)
- Wonder of Wings. A book about birds (London : Victor Gollancz, 1947)
- Acquainted with the Night. A book of dreams (Illustrated by Michael Rothenstein, Oxford : George Ronald, 1949)
- Bright Pinions. On parrots (Oxford : George Ronald, 1952)
- Feathered Outlaws (London & Worthing : Henry E. Walter, 1953)
- In Praise of Trees. An anthology for friends (London : Frederick Muller, 1953)
- Into an Hour-Glass. An 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 ... Woodcuts by William Wood (London : Frederick Muller, 1960)
References
- ^ http://www.findonvillage.com/0361_margot_and_nancy.htm
- ^ Hartnoll, Phyllis; Peter Found (1992). The Concise Oxford companion to the theatre. Oxford University Press. p. 392. ISBN 978-0-198-66136-8.
- ^ Price, Nancy (1953). Into An Hour Glass. London: Museum Press. p. 185.
- ^ J.t. Grein (2010). Dramatic Criticism (Volume 5). London: General Books LLC. ISBN 1153970848.
- ^ http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Fortune.htm
- ^ Stanton, Sarah; Martin Banham (1996). Cambridge paperback guide to theatre. Cambridge University Press. p. 282. ISBN 978-0-521-44654-9. http://books.google.com/books?id=Ubr35UeE-UQC&q=nancy+price#v=snippet&q=nancy%20price&f=false. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
- ^ Gale, Maggie Barbara. (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. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
- ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 38929. pp. 2785–2785. 2 June 1950. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
- ^ http://www.theater-dictionary.com/definition/Lilian-Nancy-Bache-Price.html
External links
Categories:- 1880 births
- 1970 deaths
- 20th-century actors
- British film actors
- British television actors
- English film actors
- British silent film actors
- English silent film actors
- English stage actors
- English television actors
- English memoirists
- English novelists
- English women writers
- English diarists
- English poets
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- People from Kinver
- Theatre directors
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