Constance Little - Postcard, 1909
Title
Constance Little - Postcard, 1909
Date
29 March 1909
Description
Promotional postcard of Constance Little appearing in the 1909 touring production of The Sign of the Cross by Wilson Barrett.
What's the story?
Constance Little starred as Mercia in William Greet’s production of The Sign of the Cross at the Theatre Royal from 29 March to 3 April 1909.
The Sign of the Cross author, Wilson Barrett, was another in a long-line of Victorian touring actor/managers. Wilson often focused on melodrama, with The Sign on the Cross being his most successful play.
A religious drama, set in the time of Rome during Nero’s reign, The Sign on the Cross was first produced in Missouri in the United States in March 1895.
It opened in Leeds in August 1895 and then toured regularly for several decades. According to contemporary reports, at theatres where this play was performed, there would be crowds of non-traditional theatregoers seeing the show, along with several zealous clergymen.
In its review on 30 March 1909 the Nottingham Evening Post stated …
“In the part of Mercia Miss Constance Little struck the note of composed calm which makes the character stand out in such bold relief, like a thread of white silk in a brilliantly coloured patchwork. Her emotional work was admirably done.”
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 Sign of the Cross author, Wilson Barrett, was another in a long-line of Victorian touring actor/managers. Wilson often focused on melodrama, with The Sign on the Cross being his most successful play.
A religious drama, set in the time of Rome during Nero’s reign, The Sign on the Cross was first produced in Missouri in the United States in March 1895.
It opened in Leeds in August 1895 and then toured regularly for several decades. According to contemporary reports, at theatres where this play was performed, there would be crowds of non-traditional theatregoers seeing the show, along with several zealous clergymen.
In its review on 30 March 1909 the Nottingham Evening Post stated …
“In the part of Mercia Miss Constance Little struck the note of composed calm which makes the character stand out in such bold relief, like a thread of white silk in a brilliantly coloured patchwork. Her emotional work was admirably done.”
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
