Latest news with #NorthernTheatreSchool
South Wales Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
‘Unsung' pioneering actress and director Esme Church honoured with blue plaque
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. 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. 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'. 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.
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
‘Unsung' pioneering actress and director Esme Church honoured with blue plaque
'Unsung' pioneering actress and director Esme Church honoured with blue plaque 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 An "unsung" actress and director who founded a theatre school that taught future stars including three-time Bafta winner Billie Whitelaw has been honoured with a blue plaque. 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. 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. Article continues below 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. 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". 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. Article continues below The eight-week public nomination period for the National Blue Plaque Scheme is open until July 10 2025.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blue Plaque honour for Bradford theatre pioneer
A pioneer of theatre in the north of England has been honoured with a Blue Plaque in Bradford. Actress Esmé Church was born in 1893 in London and joined the Old Vic Company in 1927, where she performed major Shakespearean roles including Lady Macbeth and Hamlet's mother Gertrude. She moved into directing at the Greyhound Theatre in Croydon, then led the Old Vic's drama school, before becoming artistic director at the Bradford Civic Playhouse from 1944 to 1950. While she was there she founded the Northern Theatre School at 26 Chapel Street in Little Germany, where Historic England has unveiled a plaque to mark her legacy. The venue has since been renamed the Bradford Playhouse Theatre. Megan Wilson, artistic director at the site, said: "The plaque is super important. The Playhouse has a fantastic history as a civic theatre. "Not only did Esmé train many fabulous actors she also worked really, really hard to get young people into the theatre." One of those young people was Megan's grandfather, Kenneth Kenzie, now 91, who came to one of Esmé's productions of Julius Caesar. She said: "He was 13 years old at that point and had never been to a proper theatre. "He said that his parents would never have been able to afford to send him to a theatre. I was only because it was a school trip that he managed to get to go." Ms Wilson said that despite Church's pioneering work, there were very few female artistic directors. "It's still quite a male-dominated industry," she said. "I think we should be celebrating, but also asking more women to be involved. "While there's a a lot of women on the stage, there's not a lot of women backstage, there are not a lot of women technicians, producers, and theatre managers. "I think that's a real shame." Among those mentored by Church during her time in Bradford was The Omen actress Billie Whitelaw. Other actors including Lord Peter Wimsey star Edward Petherbridge, Secret Army actor Bernard Hepton and theatre actor Sir Robert Stephens were also mentored by Church. She died in 1972 at the age of 79. Her great nephew, Bruce Durham, said: "Growing up with Esmé around, it was always wonderful to see and hear about her work – whether it was entertaining troops in France during the World War One, becoming the head of The Old Vic Theatre School, or travelling to and from New York." He said it was "an honour" to see the plaque unveiled. Lord Neil Mendoza, chairman of Historic England, said: "Esmé Church was a formidable force in British theatre - an actor, director, and teacher whose influence shaped generations of performers. "Like so many trailblazing women working in the 1920s and 1930s, her legacy has not received the national recognition it deserves." The plaque reads: "Esme Church, 1893-1972, actress and director ran the Northern Theatre School here." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Renovation to give theatre 'new lease of life'
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Blue Plaque honour for Bradford theatre pioneer Esmé Church
A pioneer of theatre in the north of England has been honoured with a Blue Plaque in Esmé Church was born in 1893 in London and joined the Old Vic Company in 1927, where she performed major Shakespearean roles including Lady Macbeth and Hamlet's mother Gertrude. She moved into directing at the Greyhound Theatre in Croydon, then led the Old Vic's drama school, before becoming artistic director at the Bradford Civic Playhouse from 1944 to she was there she founded the Northern Theatre School at 26 Chapel Street in Little Germany, where Historic England has unveiled a plaque to mark her legacy. The venue has since been renamed the Bradford Playhouse Theatre. Megan Wilson, artistic director at the site, said: "The plaque is super important. The Playhouse has a fantastic history as a civic theatre."Not only did Esmé train many fabulous actors she also worked really, really hard to get young people into the theatre."One of those young people was Megan's grandfather, Kenneth Kenzie, now 91, who came to one of Esmé's productions of Julius Caesar. She said: "He was 13 years old at that point and had never been to a proper theatre."He said that his parents would never have been able to afford to send him to a theatre. I was only because it was a school trip that he managed to get to go." Ms Wilson said that despite Church's pioneering work, there were very few female artistic directors."It's still quite a male-dominated industry," she said."I think we should be celebrating, but also asking more women to be involved."While there's a a lot of women on the stage, there's not a lot of women backstage, there are not a lot of women technicians, producers, and theatre managers."I think that's a real shame." Among those mentored by Church during her time in Bradford was The Omen actress Billie actors including Lord Peter Wimsey star Edward Petherbridge, Secret Army actor Bernard Hepton and theatre actor Sir Robert Stephens were also mentored by died in 1972 at the age of great nephew, Bruce Durham, said: "Growing up with Esmé around, it was always wonderful to see and hear about her work – whether it was entertaining troops in France during the World War One, becoming the head of The Old Vic Theatre School, or travelling to and from New York."He said it was "an honour" to see the plaque Neil Mendoza, chairman of Historic England, said: "Esmé Church was a formidable force in British theatre - an actor, director, and teacher whose influence shaped generations of performers. "Like so many trailblazing women working in the 1920s and 1930s, her legacy has not received the national recognition it deserves."The plaque reads: "Esme Church, 1893-1972, actress and director ran the Northern Theatre School here." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
North Wales Chronicle
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
‘Unsung' pioneering actress and director Esme Church honoured with blue plaque
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. 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. 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'. 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.
