Nancy Price

Nancy Price
Nancy Price
Born	Lilian Nancy Bache Price; 3 February 1880; Kinver,Staffordshire, England, UK
Died	31 March 1970(aged 90); Findon,Sussex, England, UK
Occupations	Actress; author; theatre director; theatre founder;
Spouse	Charles Maude (m.1907;died 1943)

Nancy Price,CBE(3 February 1880 – 31 March 1970) was an Englishactresson stage and screen,authorandtheatre director.Her acting career began in arepertorytheatre company before progressing to the London stage, silent films,talkiesand finally television. In addition to appearing on stage she became involved in theatre production and was a founder of thePeople's National Theatre.

Personal life

ChristenedLilian Nancy Bache PriceinKinver,Staffordshire, England, in 1880, 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 nearbyMalvern Wellsshe 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. They had two daughtersJoan Maudeand Elizabeth Maude. Joan, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth's daughterJennifer Phippsall went on to become actresses.^[1]Soon after Charles and Nancy's daughters were born, they made the village ofFindonin Sussex her home, living in a cottage called "Arcana" in Heather Lane on theDowns.^[2]

She also wrote many books, including her autobiography,Into an Hour-Glass(1953). At one time she managed the "Little Theatre" in the Adelphi, off the Strand.

Findon remained her home until her death in 1970.

Theatre career

Nancy joinedF.R. Benson's theatre company whilst still at school. The company specialised inShakespeare'splays and toured extensively in the provinces. Her first big break came when she caught the attention ofSir Herbert Beerbohm Tree,who cast her as Calypso inStephen Phillips's production ofUlyssesatHer Majesty's Theatre,London in 1902, a role in which she enjoyed great success.^[3]The part of Hilda Gunning was written for her byArthur Wing PineroinLetty(1904),^[4]a role in which the theatre criticJ. T. Greinsaid: "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".^[5]In 1909 she appeared as Mrs. D'Aquila inGeorge Dance'sproduction ofThe Whipat theTheatre Royal, Drury Lane.She joinedEdith Craig'sPioneer Players at theKingsway Theatrein 1911 for a performance ofChristopher St. John'sThe First Actress.In March 1912, she appeared as India inSir Edward Elgar's Imperial MasqueThe Crown of Indiaat theLondon Coliseum.

Together with the Dutch-born theatre impresarioJ.T. Grein,Nancy Price founded thePeople's National Theatrein 1930. Their first production wasThe Man from BlankleysbyF. Ansteyat theFortune Theatre.^[6]When Grein left the company Nancy became its honorary director, and in 1932 a permanent home was found at theLittle Theatre in the Adelphiwith Nancy as manager. The enterprise came to an end with the destruction of the theatre in 1941.^[7]During this period, Nancy established the English School Theatre Movement, which toured productions of Shakespeare plays toworking classchildren.^[8]

In the1950 King's Birthday Honours,Nancy was awarded aCBEfor services to the stage.^[9]In the same year, she gave her final stage performance as Martha Blanchard in the play she co-wrote with Eden Phillpotts,The Orange Orchard,at the New Lindsey Theatre.^[10]

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
1902	Ulysses	Her Majesty's Theatre,London	Calypso	Written byStephen Phillips,produced byBeerbohm Tree
1902–03	The Eternal City	His Majesty's Theatre,London	Princess Bellini	Dramatisation ofHall Caine'snovel 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 Societyproduction ofSt. John Hankin'sfirst play
1903–04	Letty	Duke of York's Theatre,London	Hilda Gunning
1908	The Gay Lord Quex	Garrick Theatre,London	Sophy Fullgarney
1908–09	A Modern Aspasia	The Aldwych Theatre,London	Muriel Meredith	Play byHamilton Fyfe,cast included her husband Charles Maude
1909	One of the Best	The Aldwych Theatre,London	Esther Coventry	Play bySeymour Hicks
1909	The Fountain	The Aldwych Theatre,London	Dinah Kippin	Play byGeorge Calderon
1909–10	The Whip	Theatre Royal, Drury Lane,London	Mrs. D'Aquila
1911	The Vision of Delight	His Majesty's Theatre,London	One of The Twelve Hours	Play written byBen JonsonCoronation Gala performance
1911	The First Actress	The Kingsway Theatre,London	Margaret Hughes
1911	The Merchant of Venice	Shakespeare Memorial Theatre,Stratford-upon-Avon	Portia
1915–16	Richard III	His Majesty's Theatre,London
1923	Outward Bound	Everyman Theatre,London	Mrs. Cliveden-Banks	Play bySutton Vane
1923–24	Ambush	Garrick Theatre,London	Harriett Nichols
1925	Enrico IV(Henry IV)	Everyman Theatre,London	Marchioness Matilda Spina	Play written by Luigi Pirandello
1925	And That's the Truth (If You Think it is)	Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith,London	Signora Frola	Based on the playCosì è (se vi pare)byLuigi Pirandello
1925	Gloriana	Little Theatre in the Adelphi,London	Princess Elizabeth	Appearing alongsideJohn Gielgud
1929–30	Belle: or What's the Bother?	Prince Of Wales Theatre,London	Annie Collins	Later renamed as Down Our Street
1931	The Silver Box	Fortune Theatre,London	Mrs. Jones	Play written byJohn Galsworthy
1931	Salome	Savoy Theatre,London	Herodias	First public performance in England ofOscar Wilde'spreviously banned play
1932	Trifles	Duchess Theatre,London	Mrs. Hale	Play written bySusan Glaspell
1932	Alison's House	Little Theatre in the Adelphi,London	Miss Agatha	Pulitzer Prizewinning play written bySusan Glaspell
1934	Nurse Cavell	Vaudeville Theatre,London	Edith Cavell	Play written byC. E. Bechhofer RobertsandC.S. Forester
1934	The Life That I Gave Him	People's National Theatre	Don'Anna Luna	Play written by Luigi Pirandello (Italian source:La vita che ti diedi,1923)
1939	Mrs Van Kleek	Playhouse Theatre,London	Mrs Van Kleek, the lead	Play written byElinor Mordauntfrom her book of the same name published 1933 ran 10 March to 15 April 1939 Queen Mary attended Friday 14 April 1939 [The Times 18 March 1939]
1941–42	Whiteoaks	Theatre Royal, Bath and Comedy Theatre, London
1943	Vintage Wine	Grand Theatre, Blackpool	Madame Popinot
1943–44	John Gabriel Borkman	The Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool
1944–45	Lisa	The Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool
1950	The Orange Orchard	New Lindsey Theatre, London	Martha Blanchard

Film career

Having established herself as a stage actress in London's West End, Nancy's first film role was in the black and white, silent filmThe 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 appearedThe Price of Divorcewas adapted by producerOswald Mitchellto incorporate sound and released under the nameSuch is the Law.

Filmography

Film
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1916	The Lyons Mail	Janette
1921	Belphegor the Mountebank	Countess de Blangy
1923	Bonnie Prince Charlie	Lady Kingsburgh	Appearing alongsideIvor 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 byJohn Buchan
1928	His House in Order	Lady Ridgeley	Silent film which is believed lost.^[11]
1928	The Price of Divorce		released asSuch 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	EarlySherlock Holmesfilm
1932	Down Our Street	Annie Collins
1934	The Crucifix	Miss Bryany
1939	The Stars Look Down	Martha Fenwick	Adapted byA.J.Cronin
1940	Dead Man's Shoes	Madame Pelletier	Roddy McDowellin an early role
1942	Secret Mission	Violette, housekeeper
1944	Madonna of the Seven Moons	Mama Barucci	Produced byGainsborough Pictures
1945	I Know Where I'm Going!	Mrs. Crozier	Petula Clarkin an early role
1945	I Live in Grosvenor Square	Mrs. Wilson
1946	Carnival	Mrs. Trewhella
1947	Master of Bankdam	Lydia Crowther	Nicholas Parsonsin a minor role
1948	The Three Weird Sisters	Gertrude Morgan-Vaughan	Screenplay co-written byDylan Thomas
1950	The Naked Heart	Theresa Suprenant	Film also known asMaria Chapdelaine
1952	Mandy	Jane Ellis	Distributed byEaling Studios

Television filmography

Television
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1938	Will Shakespeare	Queen Elizabeth	BBCproduction
1948	Nurse Cavell	Edith Cavell	BBC production
1949	Down Our Street	Annie Collins	BBC production
1950	The Silver Box	Mrs.Jones	BBC production based on a play byJohn Galsworthy
1950	Thérèse Raquin	Madame Raquin	BBC production based on novelThérèse RaquinbyÉmile Zola
1950	The Orange Orchard	Martha Blanchard	BBC production
1951	Whiteoaks	Grandma Adeline Whiteoak	BBC production

Radio broadcasting


Year	Title	Role	Notes
1951	The Life That I Gave Him	Donn'Anna Luna	BBC production. From the playLa vita che ti diedi,1923, by Luigi Pirandello. Translated by Clifford Bax. Adapted for broadcasting and produced by Mary Hope Allen

Bibliography

Plays

Whiteoaks: A Play(WithMazo de la Roche,Macmillan, 1936)
The Orange Orchard(WithEden 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 byJoan Maudeand faithfully recorded by Nancy Price(London: John Murray, 1912)
Vagabond's Way. Haphazard wanderings on the fells... With illustrations byA.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 byMichael 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

^"Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia".canadiantheatre.Retrieved23 November2015.
^Margot and Nancy Archived20 October 2006 at theWayback Machine.findonvillage
^Hartnoll, Phyllis; Peter Found (1992).The Concise Oxford companion to the theatre.Oxford University Press. p.392.ISBN 978-0-19-866136-8.
^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 978-1-153-97084-6.
^The Fortune Theatre, Russell Street, London, WC2.arthurlloyd.co.uk
^Stanton, Sarah; Martin Banham (1996).Cambridge paperback guide to theatre.Cambridge University Press. p. 282.ISBN 978-0-521-44654-9.Retrieved10 September2011.
^Gale, Maggie Barbara. (1996).West End women: women and the London stage, 1918–1962.Routledge. p. 64.ISBN 0-415-08495-4.Retrieved10 September2011.
^"No. 38929".The London Gazette(Supplement). 2 June 1950. pp. 2785–2785.
^[1]^{[dead link]}
^Lobenthal, Joel (2004).Tallulah: the life and times of a leading lady.HarperCollins. p. 130.ISBN 0-06-039435-8.

External links

[1] "Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia".canadiantheatre.Retrieved23 November2015.

[2] Margot and Nancy Archived20 October 2006 at theWayback Machine.findonvillage

[3] Hartnoll, Phyllis; Peter Found (1992).The Concise Oxford companion to the theatre.Oxford University Press. p.392.ISBN 978-0-19-866136-8.

[4] Price, Nancy (1953).Into An Hour Glass.London: Museum Press. p. 185.

[5] J.T. Grein (2010).Dramatic Criticism (Volume 5).London: General Books LLC.ISBN 978-1-153-97084-6.

[6] The Fortune Theatre, Russell Street, London, WC2.arthurlloyd.co.uk

[7] Stanton, Sarah; Martin Banham (1996).Cambridge paperback guide to theatre.Cambridge University Press. p. 282.ISBN 978-0-521-44654-9.Retrieved10 September2011.

[8] Gale, Maggie Barbara. (1996).West End women: women and the London stage, 1918–1962.Routledge. p. 64.ISBN 0-415-08495-4.Retrieved10 September2011.

[9] "No. 38929".The London Gazette(Supplement). 2 June 1950. pp. 2785–2785.

[10] [1]^{[dead link]}

[11] Lobenthal, Joel (2004).Tallulah: the life and times of a leading lady.HarperCollins. p. 130.ISBN 0-06-039435-8.

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