Phyllis Relph - Postcard, 1908
Title
Phyllis Relph - Postcard, 1908
Date
6 June 1908
Description
Promotional postcard of Phyllis Relph, starring in 1908 touring production of She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith.
What's the story?
Phyllis Relph starred as Kate Hardcastle in Oliver Goldsmith’s 1773 comedy, She Stoops to Conquer, performed at the Theatre Royal for one performance only on 6 June 1908.
This was part of a week-long season of comedy drama performed by Edward Compton’s Comedy Company. Other productions being performed were Davy Garrick, The School for Scandal, The 18th Century, The Gentleman in Grey and A Reformed Rake.
A noted actor in her time, during the 1919 Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Phyllis Relph played the major roles of Portia, Imogen in Cymbeline, Ophelia and Viola during the few weeks of the festival that year.
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’s Comedy Company. Other productions being performed were Davy Garrick, The School for Scandal, The 18th Century, The Gentleman in Grey and A Reformed Rake.
A noted actor in her time, during the 1919 Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Phyllis Relph played the major roles of Portia, Imogen in Cymbeline, Ophelia and Viola during the few weeks of the festival that year.
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
