‘Unsung' pioneering actress and director Esme Church honoured with blue plaque

Western Telegraph

7 days ago

The recognition in Bradford, where she ran the Northern Theatre School, will allow Esme Church to take her 'rightful place in the cultural memory of this country', Historic England said.
Born on 11 February 1893 in Marylebone, London, she trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Rada before making her stage debut in the 1920s, and later joining the Old Vic Company.
Three-time Bafta winner Billie Whitelaw (PA)
She performed major Shakespearean roles such as Lady Macbeth and Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, and led the Old Vic's drama school from 1936.
Her career as a director began in the 1930s when she became artistic director of the Greyhound Theatre in Croydon, before moving on to Bradford Civic Playhouse where she took up the same role during the 1940s and 1950s.
There, she championed regional theatre, established the Northern Theatre School, and mentored The Omen actress Whitelaw, who won a film Bafta in 1969 for best supporting actress for her roles in thriller Twisted Nerve and comedy Charlie Bubbles, along with two Bafta TV gongs.
Other actors such as Dorothy L Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey star Edward Petherbridge, Secret Army actor Bernard Hepton and theatre actor Sir Robert Stephens, Dame Maggie Smith's former husband, were also among those mentored by Church.
Esme Church's plaque
Lord Neil Mendoza, chairman of Historic England, called Church a 'formidable force in British theatre' who was among the 'trailblazing women' who have 'not received the national recognition (they) deserve'.
He added: 'It is time that Esme Church takes her rightful place in the cultural memory of this country.'
The plaque, which will be unveiled on Friday at 26 Chapel Street, Little Germany, reads: 'Esme Church, 1893-1972, actress and director ran the Northern Theatre School here.'
Bruce Durham, the great-nephew of Church, said it is 'giving her the recognition that she deserves for all her contributions to the arts'.
Actor Edward Petherbridge was mentored by Church (Ian West/PA)
He said: 'Growing up with Esme around, it was always wonderful to see and hear about her work – whether it was entertaining troops in France during the First World War, becoming the head of The Old Vic Theatre School, or travelling to and from New York.
'It's important that not only my great-aunt Esme is recognised but being able to use brilliant platforms such as Ancestry to uncover the many unsung women who made a significant impact during the early 20th century.'
Church's contribution comes as Bradford celebrates its year as UK City of Culture in 2025.
Si Cunningham, chairman of Bradford Civic Society, said: 'It's thrilling to see yet more national recognition for Bradford's pioneering, creative heritage.
'Esme Church is an incredibly deserving recipient of a national blue plaque, which perfectly complements the city's own growing blue plaque scheme.
'I hope this beautiful plaque, and Esme's fascinating story, inspires a new generation of creative Bradfordians to do great things for their city.'
Historic England and genealogy site Ancestry are calling on the public to uncover further inspiring women or girls from the 20th century, who may have been forgotten and deserve their place in history.
The eight-week public nomination period for the National Blue Plaque Scheme is open until July 10 2025.