Henry Baynton - Postcard, 1922
Title
Henry Baynton - Postcard, 1922
Date
1 May 1922
Description
Promotional postcard of Henry Baynton for a week-long presentation of Shakespeare plays, produced by Robert Courtneidge.
What's the story?
Henry Baynton, heading up his own company, starred in a week-long series of plays by William Shakespeare, which ran at the Theatre Royal from 1 to 6 May 1922.
Plays being performed were As You Like It, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, The Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet and The Merchant of Venice.
The company also performed The Bells, a play strongly associated with Henry Irving.
Despite the postcard image, Baynton did not perform in Julius Caesar during this, his only 1922 visit to the Theatre Royal.
Henry Baynton was a renowned actor-manager in the early twentieth century, having worked with both Henry Irving and F.R.Benson.
In 1920 he formed his own company, which was later taken over by producer Robert Courtneidge. Baynton later tried to revive his own company, but the venture failed, resulting in bankruptcy.
In a promotional listing for the forthcoming performances in the Nottingham Journal on 26 April 1922, producer Robert Courtneidge wrote …
“In Nottingham he (Baynton) will be supported by a Company specially chosen by myself to give an adequate and worthy rendering of the classic plays. The opportunity of seeing Shakespeare well performed by a gifted young actor and an excellent company will, I am sure, appeal to all playgoers, and in particular to the rising generation, who can thus form their first impressions of the National Post in exceptional surroundings.”
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.
Plays being performed were As You Like It, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, The Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet and The Merchant of Venice.
The company also performed The Bells, a play strongly associated with Henry Irving.
Despite the postcard image, Baynton did not perform in Julius Caesar during this, his only 1922 visit to the Theatre Royal.
Henry Baynton was a renowned actor-manager in the early twentieth century, having worked with both Henry Irving and F.R.Benson.
In 1920 he formed his own company, which was later taken over by producer Robert Courtneidge. Baynton later tried to revive his own company, but the venture failed, resulting in bankruptcy.
In a promotional listing for the forthcoming performances in the Nottingham Journal on 26 April 1922, producer Robert Courtneidge wrote …
“In Nottingham he (Baynton) will be supported by a Company specially chosen by myself to give an adequate and worthy rendering of the classic plays. The opportunity of seeing Shakespeare well performed by a gifted young actor and an excellent company will, I am sure, appeal to all playgoers, and in particular to the rising generation, who can thus form their first impressions of the National Post in exceptional surroundings.”
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
