Dick Whittington - Gillian Haywood-Widdowson Newspaper Cuttings, 1949
Title
Dick Whittington - Gillian Haywood-Widdowson Newspaper Cuttings, 1949
Date
February 1949
Description
Two newspaper articles about local dancer Gillian Haywood-Widdowson and her work in Dick Whittington, the Theatre Royal Pantomime for 1948/1949.
What's the story?
Gillian Haywood-Widdowson was born in Manthorpe in Lincolnshire in 1933 and moved to Nottingham aged 2, living in Sneinton Dale.
As a child she contracted rheumatic fever and following advice from doctors her mother enrolled her in dancing classes to try and prevent further problems with her joints.
As a teenager she started dancing professionally and performed in Pantomimes at the Theatre Royal, most notably Dick Whittington in 1948, Jack and the Beanstalk in 1949 and Red Riding Hood in 1950.
For these shows Gillian was one of the star performers for Kirby’s Flying Ballet, which performed spectacular aerial routines.
Gillian continued to dance well into her 40s, performing cabaret work, as well as her second career of designing and making bridal veils.
She still lives in Sneinton.
These two newspaper cuttings reveal how talented Gillian was, being promoted from an understudy to a member of the aerial acrobatic team of Kirby’s Flying Ballet.
These cuttings are taken from Gillian’s own private collection and the names of the newspapers are not known.
As a child she contracted rheumatic fever and following advice from doctors her mother enrolled her in dancing classes to try and prevent further problems with her joints.
As a teenager she started dancing professionally and performed in Pantomimes at the Theatre Royal, most notably Dick Whittington in 1948, Jack and the Beanstalk in 1949 and Red Riding Hood in 1950.
For these shows Gillian was one of the star performers for Kirby’s Flying Ballet, which performed spectacular aerial routines.
Gillian continued to dance well into her 40s, performing cabaret work, as well as her second career of designing and making bridal veils.
She still lives in Sneinton.
These two newspaper cuttings reveal how talented Gillian was, being promoted from an understudy to a member of the aerial acrobatic team of Kirby’s Flying Ballet.
These cuttings are taken from Gillian’s own private collection and the names of the newspapers are not known.
Type
Newspaper Cuttings
Location of item
Private Collection: Gillian Haywood-Widdowson
Rights
Private Collection: Gillian Haywood-Widdowson
Contributor
Researcher: David Longford
