Edward Compton - Postcard, 1908
Title
Edward Compton - Postcard, 1908
Date
5 June 1908
Description
Promotional postcard of Edward Compton, starring in 1908 touring production of A Reformed Rake.
What's the story?
Edward Compton starred in A Reformed Rake, performed at the Theatre Royal for one night only on 5 June 1908.
This was part of a week-long season of comedy drama performed by Edward Compton and his company. Other productions being performed were Davy Garrick, The School for Scandal, The 18th Century, The Gentleman in Grey and She Stoops to Conquer.
A review of A Reformed Rake on Saturday 6 June 1908 stated …
“Indeed, in the comic as well as the tragic passages, Mr Compton reached the highest rung of his art, the curtain falling amidst a hearty round of applause.”
Actor Edward Compton formed the Compton Comedy Company in 1881, following a bequest of £2,000 in the will of his fiancée Adelaide Neilson, who had suddenly died.
Following this bereavement Compton threw himself into his work, devoting himself to touring the regions in comedy productions.
Well-known actors Alan Howard and Leslie Howard could trace their family tree back to Edward Compton.
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.
This was part of a week-long season of comedy drama performed by Edward Compton and his company. Other productions being performed were Davy Garrick, The School for Scandal, The 18th Century, The Gentleman in Grey and She Stoops to Conquer.
A review of A Reformed Rake on Saturday 6 June 1908 stated …
“Indeed, in the comic as well as the tragic passages, Mr Compton reached the highest rung of his art, the curtain falling amidst a hearty round of applause.”
Actor Edward Compton formed the Compton Comedy Company in 1881, following a bequest of £2,000 in the will of his fiancée Adelaide Neilson, who had suddenly died.
Following this bereavement Compton threw himself into his work, devoting himself to touring the regions in comedy productions.
Well-known actors Alan Howard and Leslie Howard could trace their family tree back to Edward Compton.
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
