Winifred Beech - Postcard, 1913
Title
Winifred Beech - Postcard, 1913
Date
4 August 1913
Description
Promotional postcard of Winifred Beech, appearing in touring production of The Passing of the Third Floor Back by Jerome K Jerome in 1913.
What's the story?
Winifred Beech starred in in The Passing of the Third Floor Back, which ran at the Theatre Royal from 4 to 9 August 1913.
The Passing of the Third Floor Back was written by Jerome K Jerome and first performed in 1908, with Johnston Forbes-Robertson in the leading role of The Stranger.
Winifred Beech later became Winifred, Lady Fortescue, having married historian Sir John Fortescue in 1914. She gave up her stage career and became an interior decorator, dress designer and later a writer.
Although signed and dated in August 1913, this postcard actually depicts Beech in the role of Beauty in Pinkie and Faeries. Beech writes on the card that this was “My first part! Her Majesty’s Theatre, London 1910-11” Beech also writes, “It is so nice to be remembered! (3rd visit to Nottingham)”
This postcard forms part of a large scrapbook collection donated to the Theatre Royal archive by Diane Meadwell from Sandiacre. Her great grandfather was Bernard Hill, the former landlord of The Sun Inn on Parliament Street and who later became the Stage Door Keeper at the Theatre Royal. Bernard’s daughter Edith also worked at the Theatre Royal as an usherette.
Whilst in his stage door job, Bernard collected a large number of postcards of the numerous artists who performed at the venue, many of which he got them to autograph, as well as writing the date and if necessary the show on the reverse, making the future archivist’s job that little bit easier. We have then been able to cross-reference this information with the list of Theatre Royal shows being compiled by volunteer researcher Lynn Whitley.
We are grateful to Diane for sharing her family memories with us and for donating such a valuable resource to the archive.
The Passing of the Third Floor Back was written by Jerome K Jerome and first performed in 1908, with Johnston Forbes-Robertson in the leading role of The Stranger.
Winifred Beech later became Winifred, Lady Fortescue, having married historian Sir John Fortescue in 1914. She gave up her stage career and became an interior decorator, dress designer and later a writer.
Although signed and dated in August 1913, this postcard actually depicts Beech in the role of Beauty in Pinkie and Faeries. Beech writes on the card that this was “My first part! Her Majesty’s Theatre, London 1910-11” Beech also writes, “It is so nice to be remembered! (3rd visit to Nottingham)”
This postcard forms part of a large scrapbook collection donated to the Theatre Royal archive by Diane Meadwell from Sandiacre. Her great grandfather was Bernard Hill, the former landlord of The Sun Inn on Parliament Street and who later became the Stage Door Keeper at the Theatre Royal. Bernard’s daughter Edith also worked at the Theatre Royal as an usherette.
Whilst in his stage door job, Bernard collected a large number of postcards of the numerous artists who performed at the venue, many of which he got them to autograph, as well as writing the date and if necessary the show on the reverse, making the future archivist’s job that little bit easier. We have then been able to cross-reference this information with the list of Theatre Royal shows being compiled by volunteer researcher Lynn Whitley.
We are grateful to Diane for sharing her family memories with us and for donating such a valuable resource to the archive.
Type
Postcard
Location of item
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Rights
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Contributor
Researchers: David Longford / Lynn Whitley
