Dorothea Baird - Postcard, 1908
Title
Dorothea Baird - Postcard, 1908
Date
4 May 1908
Description
Promotional postcard of Dorothea Baird in 1908 touring production of King Rene's Daughter.
What's the story?
Dorothea Baird starred as Iolanthe in King Rene’s Daughter at the Theatre Royal from 4 May 1908.
King Rene’s Daughter is a Danish verse drama written in 1845 by Henrik Hertz, that became very popular during the 19th century and was regularly translated and adapted for the stage.
In 1876, a version by Theodore Martin was staged at the Lyceum Theatre by Henry Irving and his company.
This would undoubtedly be the version used for this 1908 touring production, as it preceded on stage the melodrama The Bells, performed by H.B. Irving, Henry Irving’s son and Baird’s husband
After his father’s death in 1905, H.B. Irving set up his own theatre company, with his wife Dorothea Baird and toured plays, including The Bells, the role and show most associated with his father.
Reviewing King Rene’s Daughter on 5 May 1908, the Nottingham Evening Post wrote …
“ ‘The Bells’ was preceded by the fantastic but picturesque one-act play, ‘King Rene’s Daughter’, in which Miss Dorothea Baird, (Mrs. H.B. Irving) charmed the audience by her delightful pathos and appealing sweetness as Iolanthe, the blind princess.”
Baird was a renowned actor during the late 19th and early 20th century. She was the first Mrs Darling in the stage production of Peter Pan in 1904.
In 1913, she retired from the stage and became heavily involved in charitable causes, most notably those assisting young mothers and infant welfare.
Acknowledging her marriage, this postcard is signed Dorothea Baird Irving.
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.
King Rene’s Daughter is a Danish verse drama written in 1845 by Henrik Hertz, that became very popular during the 19th century and was regularly translated and adapted for the stage.
In 1876, a version by Theodore Martin was staged at the Lyceum Theatre by Henry Irving and his company.
This would undoubtedly be the version used for this 1908 touring production, as it preceded on stage the melodrama The Bells, performed by H.B. Irving, Henry Irving’s son and Baird’s husband
After his father’s death in 1905, H.B. Irving set up his own theatre company, with his wife Dorothea Baird and toured plays, including The Bells, the role and show most associated with his father.
Reviewing King Rene’s Daughter on 5 May 1908, the Nottingham Evening Post wrote …
“ ‘The Bells’ was preceded by the fantastic but picturesque one-act play, ‘King Rene’s Daughter’, in which Miss Dorothea Baird, (Mrs. H.B. Irving) charmed the audience by her delightful pathos and appealing sweetness as Iolanthe, the blind princess.”
Baird was a renowned actor during the late 19th and early 20th century. She was the first Mrs Darling in the stage production of Peter Pan in 1904.
In 1913, she retired from the stage and became heavily involved in charitable causes, most notably those assisting young mothers and infant welfare.
Acknowledging her marriage, this postcard is signed Dorothea Baird Irving.
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
