Lena Ashwell: Actress, Patriot, Pioneer

319 Pages·2012·11.05 MB·English

by  Margaret Leask

Lena Ashwell
Actress, Patriot, Pioneer
The Society for Theatre Research
The Society for Theatre Research, founded in 1948, brings together those interested
in the history and technique of the British theatre, and it encourages research into
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Lena Ashwell
Actress, Patriot, Pioneer
Margaret Leask

University of Hertfordshire Press
The Society for Theatre Research
First published in Great Britain in 2012 by
University of Hertfordshire Press College Lane
Hatfield
Hertfordshire
AL10 9AB
UK
© Margaret Leask 2012
The right of Margaret Leask to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by
her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978-1-907396-64-9 hardback
ISBN 978-1-907396-65-6 paperback
Typesetting and design by Tetragon
Printed in Great Britain by Henry Ling Ltd
Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders and obtain relevant permissions.
Dedicated, with gratitude, to the memory of two
strong women who gave me great support, encouragement and love:

Peggy Leask and June Quentin

Contents
List of Illustrations ix
List of Abbreviations xiii
Acknowledgements xv
Preface xvii
1. Actress: early performing career 1
2. Actress-manager 35
3. Pioneer, 1908 to 1914 71
4. Patriot, 1915 to 1919 117
5. Pioneer and patriot: the Lena Ashwell Players 167
6. 1930 to 1957 213
Appendix 1 Ashwell as actress: plays, roles and theatres 231
in which she appeared
Appendix 2 Lena Ashwell Players: touring schedule, 235
1919–1929
Appendix 3 Lena Ashwell Players: repertoire 239
Appendix 4 Members of the Lena Ashwell Players 261
Bibliography 265
Index 279

Illustrations
1.1 Ashwell (Martin) in The Pharisee, Islington Grand, 1891 (photographer
unknown, author’s collection), p. 3
1.2 Ashwell (Rosamund) in Sowing the Wind, Gaiety, 1894 (Chancellor Photo,
author’s collection), p. 5
1.3 Ashwell (Edward, Prince of Wales) in Richard III, Lyceum, 1896 (Theatre
Museum, V&A Picture Library), p. 9
1.4 Ashwell (Joan Mallory) in The Mayflower, Royal Court, 1899 (J. Beagles &
Co, author’s collection), p. 12
1.5 Ashwell (Lady Jean Cochrane) and Robert Taber (John Graham of Claverhouse)
in Bonnie Dundee, Adelphi, 1900 (Rotary Photo, courtesy of Stuart Gough),
p. 14
1.6 Ashwell (Mrs Dane) in Mrs Dane’s Defence, Wyndham’s, 1900 (Biograph
Studio, author’s collection), p. 17
1.7 Ashwell (Katusha) in her peasant’s costume for Act I, Resurrection, His
Majesty’s, 1903 (Raphael Tuck, author’s collection), p. 23
1.8 Ashwell (Katusha) in Resurrection, His Majesty’s, 1903 (Raphael Tuck, author’s
collection), p. 23
2.1 Ashwell in the title role of Marguerite, Coronet, 1904 (Rotophot, author’s
collection), p. 36
2.2 Tragedy: Miss Lena Ashwell, The Sketch, 18 October 1905, p 38
2.3 Ashwell in the title role of Leah Kleschna, New Theatre, 1905 (Ellis & Walery,
author’s collection), p. 40
2.4 Ashwell in the title role of Leah Kleschna, New Theatre, 1905 (Play Pictorial,
May 1905), p. 42
2.5 Ashwell (Ninon de L’Enclos) and Henry Ainley (Chevalier de Bellormé) in The
Bond of Ninon, Savoy, 1906 (Rotary Photo, courtesy of Stuart Gough), p. 45
2.6 Ashwell (Deborah Krillet) in The Shulamite, Savoy, 1906 (Rotary Photo, author’s
collection), p. 47
2.7 Ashwell (Deborah Krillet) in The Shulamite, Savoy, 1906 (Rotary Photo, author’s
collection), p. 48
ix