September 11, 1947 The stage
Stratford to the West End
For the first time in its history the Shakespeare Memorial
Theatre Company, directed by Sir Barry Jackson, will appear in the West End at His Majesty’s for a limitied season from
Thursday, October 2, plays to be presented are King Richard II, on Oct 2,
Twelfth Night on Oct 6, and Romeo and Juliet on Oct 8. Artists in the company
of 50 include Robert Harris, Beatrix
Lehmann…
British actors equity The Stage
Members meeting with Joseph Macleod talking on the Soviet theatre, with greetings from Red Army theatre Moscow. Lots about commie theatre, but as led
by Lewis Casson, and no mention of Bea!
October 9 1947 the Stage
His Majestys’ Richard
II and Romeo and Juliet but no
mention of Bea’s performance.
October 16 1947 The stage
Among the many theatre folk gathered at the Leichner Lunch
at the Savoy hotel last week were … Beatrix Lehmann
Feb 3 1948
Anonymous1948,
Feb 03. OLDHAM REPERTORY. The Manchester Guardian
(1901-1959), 3.
Oldham Repertory Theatre Club this week presents at the
Coliseum, Poison Pen by Richard
Llewellyn, a play which has little subtlety or humour and a deal that is
unsavoury. Altogether it seems a tawdry vehicle for the art of Beatrix Lehmann,
the guest artist, who lifts the play from mediocrity as Phryne Rainrider.
Compared with her poise and repressed passion the acting of the company
inevitably seems muffled and groping, but it is remarkable what heights some of
the players can reach in scenes with Miss Lehmann. This justifies the
combination and recommends it. Technically the production is not faulty.
Settings are good, the pace even to slow, except in the last act when passages
between Miss Lehmann and Antony Oakley made Oldham’s
rain and a missed train more than worth while. Mr Oakley started modestly but
accumulated considerable distinction; and one was sorry Mollie Sugden (as
Connie Fately) had to commit suicide in the first act, for she showed vigour
and feeling of character. On February 9 the club will present this production
at the Festival of Repertory at Stratford upon Avon.
April 8, 1948 The stage
British Equity
JB Preiestly on “the theatre”
Over 250 artists attended the members’ meeting of BAE on
Friday last, at Victory House, when Beatrix Lehmann presided, and J. B.
Priestly talked on “the theatre”. His first impression of the theatre still
remained, he said, the appalling waste of human material in time, energy, hopes
and, he would add, fears. As a writer of books as well as plays he sometimes
compared the tow… He considered the theatre now had a far greater importance
than at any previous point in history. Its secret lay in the audience, who, in
these grim times, needed the sense of community. …
Gordon Sandison, The general secretary, gave details of the controversy with the BBC about televitions…
Gordon Sandison, The general secretary, gave details of the controversy with the BBC about televitions…
April 22, 1948 The Stage
British Equity
Resolutions for annual meeting
The AGM of British Equity is announced to be held at Wyndams
on May 9. The chair will be taken by the president, Beatrix Lehmann. Among the
resolutions that have been received for discussion are three from the London
Deputies suggesting the institution of a club for equity members in the west
end, the negotiation of a new contract for use of no 1 tours, and the compiling of a new lodgings list.
North 0 esher contract paid full salary from first rehearsal
Pantomime contract
Entry of students into the profession
Use of amateurs prohibitied
Agents
Old vic propose higher wages
[no mention of commies but next article underneath]
Equity elections
To the editor of The Stage
Dear Sir,
In view of the recent warnings issued by the Government as
to the holding of Trade Union posts by Communists, and the proximity of the
British Actors Equtiy Association Council elections, the most important
question that arrieses is, “Who are we to vote for when we don’t know the
qualifications of a new man or woman on the voting list”.
The only answer to that question is to find out for yourself
– but let your inquires be thorough. In the words of the Prime Minister, the
most honest Communists confess that their loyalty is lost to this country, and
a divided loyalty takes its place.
In the face of that why vote for any such? I wouldn’t care
what the political views of any candidate for the Council were, provided that
he or she will leave a Moscow-insored ideology outside the Council chamber and
get on with the domestic affairs of Equity. I doubt however, if they, of all,
can separate themselves from their divided loyalties, and indeed as far as I
can understand the communists’ ideology forbids them to do so.
Now sir, these small matters of Equity elections do not in
themselves amount to very much, but the Government has warned us to be our
guard – yours faithfully, Frank Cellier,
Stage – May 13 1948
British Equity
Annual general meeting
The annual GM of BAEA occupied a full day on Sunady last at
Wyndham’s l… There were about 600 present with Beatrix Lehmann (president) in
the chair supported by Sir Lewis Casson and Honor Blair (vice presiendt) Gordon
Sandison and John Keet (secretaries) and a full attendance of the mmembers of
the council.
Beatrix Lehmann claimed a remarkable growth in the
organisation. “Equity’s work is never done,” she declared. “The problems cannot
be frozen. Indeed, with the changed face of society they have grown more
complex, brining increase responsibilities.” In conclusion she paid a tribute
to the British Theatre Conference appreciatiave of its first result – the
partial remission of the entertainment tax.
Gordon Sandison, general secretary.. (survived the purge)..
Some confusion existing as to equity policies needed to be addressed. It had
apparently arisen about Equity Council election-canvassing. Any political note
was deprecated, the only test for candidates should be their willingness and
capacity to work for equity and the theatre. He then explained that affiliation
to the Trades Union Congress was only industrial, and had no political bias,
and ended with thesse declarations, “Equity is independent of every employers
organisation and is deremined to remain so. Equity has no affilation with any political
party, and not one penny of members contributions is used for political
puirposes.
May 20 1948 The Stage
British equity President and Council
Leslie Bands, who headed the ballot-return for the BEC
election with 1,203 votes, is to be president fo the coming year in succession
to Beatrix Lehmann. The vice-presidents will be Sir Lewis Casson (844) votes
and Honor Blair, who with 771 votes heads the six elected represntatives of
chorus-selection. Other elected members of the council are… Beatrix Lehmann
774, (13th highest level of
votes) with 23 below her.
Variety May 26, 1948
Leslie Banks succeeds Beatrix Lehmann as president of
British Equity Council with Sir Lewis Casson and Honor Blair elected vice
presidents in the coming year.
The stage June 3 1948
Liverpool Premiers No
trees in the street
On Monday at the playhouse, Liverpool,
the British Theatre Group gave the first performance of a new play by Ted
Willis.
The gangster [?] as such may be a little overdone – or even
more so, according to the playgoes’s taste – but Ted Willis approaches his
strong and forceful story from a rather different angle. No trees in the street
gives us the “home” life background of the embryo young gunman, and tells in
lanaguge which does not mince “bad” words the tale of slumdom-heredity as a
breeding ground for vice and violence. Basil Dean’s production makes first-rate
theatre, carrying the action through at a fast place towards inevitable
retribution with an unexpected twist. Whether the play, with its at times
almost overpowering moments, will be to everybody’s taste is another matter.
But there is no doubt that it does make a valuable contribution to present day
drama and mirrors a seamy side of post-war life with detailed clarity.
The British Theatre Group players give a tremendously virile
example of teamwork at its very best. No Trees in the street, depends on speed
in both action and dialogue and the cast kept both going at rapid fire. Beatrix
Lehmann’s portrait of Jess is drawn with a Hogarthian touch – a monstrous
caricature of motherhood, etched in masterly detail. This is the outstanding
performance in a series of characterisations, all of which reach great hights…
The stage June 10, 1948
Liverpool playhouse – The
British Theatre Group’s presentation of No
trees in the street is in its final week, Beatrix Lehmann gives a dramatic
portrayal of the whole who sells her daughter, and Charmian Eyre and John
Stratton are also convincing.
July 15 1948 the stage
No trees in the
street
Basil Dean’s next production for the British Theatre Group
is to be No Trees in the street, the new play by Ted Willis which opens at the
St James’s Theatre on Tuesday, July 27. This play has been touring the
repertory theatres taking part in the Festival at the St James’s while their companies
have been in London.
It completes its tour on July 24 at the Royal, Britstol, whose residient
company, the Bristol Old Vic, are now presenting their production of Hamlet at
the St James’s. Beatrix Lehmann and Bill
Owen head the cast of No trees in the street, which tells a story , in simple
gripping scenes of two young people, brother and sister, and their struggles
against the crippling conditions of lifei n the slums…
July 29 1948 The stage
No trees in the street
On Tuesday last the British Theatre Group, in association
with the Arts Council of Great Britain, presented the play…
… Is fast-moving, stark, and startling melodrama of the
sordid school. One feels, however, that the author intended something more
subtal than this in his story of the brief and murderous career of Tommy Gold,
youthful producti of London’s East
End slums. Mr Willis accentuates the squlor of young gold’s
engironement and upbringing but in overstating the case the author fails to
make his point of cause and effect.
As presented in the play, Tommy Gold and his mother Jess are
creatures of hinherent vice, devoid of decency and undeserving of sympathy. We
are, therefore, disinclined to look further for the roots of tragedy than in
the vicious natures of these unworthy and on the whole, unrepresentative
members of society. Nor is it easy to appreciate the fate of Hetty, Tommy’s
sister, whose virtue is so cheaply sold by her own mother. In the light of
previous behaviour, Hetty’s easy acceptance of this degredation does not ring true.
Mr Willis, admirably served by the producer, Basil Dean, effectively employs
the inelegnant manners and uncouth idiom of the East End
to tell his lurid story.
Beatrix Lehmann gives a remarkably colourful performance as
Jess. Miss Lehmann, however, resembles Mr willis in her tendancey towards
exaggeration, and for the most part this Jess Gold is a gin soaked caricature
of her real-life counterpart.
June 2 1949 The Stage
British Equity
Annual General Meeting
Wyndham’s was packed last Sunday for the AG meeting for
equity, which went on all day with one break for lunch. Gordon Sandison
returned from his lengthy illness, said at the opening of the conference that
there had been “a rip-roaring Red scare” in Equity that had spread like a
virus. It had affected the staff and membership and the council elections had
been dominated by so called anti-communist ticket. Now they must regret, as a
result of the Council elections, the loss of a number of the most valuable and
experienced councillors simply because they did not have the anti-communist
cachet. Mr Sandison urged, and get back to the proper business of the
Association.
When the results of the election were announced they sould a
clear victory for the “anti political” faction, from whose “white list” 17 new
nominees will now join the council. Of the 23 Councillors re-elected 18 were
included in the “white list” so that in the new council 35 out of the 40 names
are those that were approved by the orgainsers of the “anti-plitical”
camapaing. The council now consistes of the following …
Among those not re-elected to the Council are Martin
Lawrence, William Fox, Beatrix Lehmann, Alec Guinness, Herbert Marshal, Emlyn
Williams, Peggy Ashcroft, Frederick leister, Wilfred Babbage and Sir Lewis
Casson.
When Wilfred Babbage rose to pay tribute to Sir Lewis Casson
and spoke of his 45 years of service to the theatrical profession, applause and
cheers that lasted for several minutes filled the theatre. Replying Sir Lewis
said that he hoped that the election would serve as a lesson on the disgraceful
apaty shown by members in the election of their council. “It is a serious blow”
said Sir Lewis,”that out of 9000 members only 670 thought it worth while to
keep me on the Council. It will take me a long time to get over it. In fact
only 1,389 of the 9,135 ballot papers sent out were returned completed.
June 8 1949 – Variety
Top legiters wiped off Brit. Equity council in anti-leftist
cleanout.
Election over the communist issue, which has been building up during the past few months in British Actors Equity Association was climaxed at the annual meeting Sunday (29) with the complete rout of the “red” element from the council.
Anti-Red campaign, wich culminated in a “white” list of candidates to support met with substantial response, 35 of the 40 suggested being returned to office and many oldtimers on the Equtiy council suffering severe defeat.
Election over the communist issue, which has been building up during the past few months in British Actors Equity Association was climaxed at the annual meeting Sunday (29) with the complete rout of the “red” element from the council.
Anti-Red campaign, wich culminated in a “white” list of candidates to support met with substantial response, 35 of the 40 suggested being returned to office and many oldtimers on the Equtiy council suffering severe defeat.
Among those axed were former Equity president Beatrix
Lehmann, known leftist of many years standing and a member of the editorial
board of the Communist Daily Worker. Herbert Marshall and Ivor Ingham, both of
whom are known for their left views, were also wiped off the Council.
Biggest surprise was the defeat of Sir Lewis Casson, who
although amdintting socialist views, was in recent years knitted for services
to the theatre, and has been associatied with Equity from its beginning. His
wife, Sybilt Thorndike, scraped by with a narrow majority.
Edith Evans, who was excluded from the “white” list
apparently because she had once visited Soviet Russia under the auspices of
thee Society for Cultural Relations kept her seat by a single vote. On the
other hand, Clifford Mooison one of the prime movers on the right, who was
asked to resign from the council a few months ago, was returned with a comfortable
majority.
Dissident reds who have been knocked ou are now suggesting
that their defeat marks the end of Equity as an active trade union and claim
that many of the leaders are not only anti-communist and anti-socialist but
also anti-trade union.
Big question marks is the future of general Secreatry Gordon
Sandison, who is know to have left symp[ahies and was at one time a Labour
Parliamentary candidate, at the equity meeting he voiced concern at the split
in the oransiation and claimed that, as a result, Equity had lost a number of
prominent members. He also blamed the political aspect as being responsible for
the substantial drop in revenue and for the serious situation in which the
organisation now found itself.
Solitary political resolution at the Equity meeting, which
sought to ban all political discussion and action, with expulsion or suspension
as the penalty for offenders, was washed out, after prexy Leslie Banks had
declared “the ladies and gentlemen of Equity are not for burning”.
August 11, 1949
British Equity “try out” contract
At the British Equity monthly meeting at Victory House Leicester Square on Friday
last Wilby Lunn gave an address…
To cover the club and “try out” theatres around London, said Mr Keet, a
contract was now being drawn up. It must necessarily be elastic owing to great
variety of conditions prevailing in this sort of work. The question of the
numerous and very heavy union dues that must be paid by British Artists playing
in America
had for some time been the subject of negotiaoton. The ultimate aim of Equity
was to establish reciprocotiy so that psoession of an Equity card would be
effective in the US
and obviate the paymnent of further union fees. Equtiy had so far failed to
gain this agreement, and it was felt that under the circumstances it would be
reasonable to expect that American artists should pay union fees while over
here. …
The discussion which followed brought up three poins, each of sufficient interest
and importance to have occupied the whole two and a half hours devoted to the
meeting. Unfortuantely barely half an hour remained and much was inevitably
left unsaid. Beatrix Lehmann spoke
urgently on the need for professional advice to municipal authorise on civic
entertainment and further education. Everyone had further great hopes of the
Local Government Act empowering the expenditure by local authorites of the
equivalent of 5d rate on entertainment. But the only result so far had been an
increase in amateur activity after, in several cases, the financial failure of
a professional production. And this at a time when unemployment was increasing
seriously in the profession. It was essential that Equity should form a body
that could guide the local authorites on the development of the civic theatre.
Miss Lehmann’s resloultion to this effect was passed unanimously afters ome
discussion.
February 23, 1950
Damascus Blade
John Mills returns to the stage to play the leading role in
The Damascus Blade a play by Mary Boland, which Laurence Olivier prsentes at
the Royal Newcalste on March 13. The other artists in a cast of six are Mary
Maxkenzie, Beatrix Lehmann, Bary Jones, Peter Finch and Peter Cushing. Lawrence
Oliver produces the play in which John Mills will be seen as a young Irish
solider of fortune in search of a job.
April 6 1950
In the provinces
Glasgow
Kings- The Damascus Blade
Provides plenty of food for thought if one cares to exercise
this privilege. John Mills expounds the theories of the playwright with
considerable application, force and sincerity, and is aided in the practical
demonstration of these theories by Beatrix Lehmann, Barry Jones and Mary
Mackenzie.
April 13 1950
Damascus blade
Edinborough theatre goers are showing great interest in the
visit of John Mills. Mr Mills gives an excellent performance in a difficult
role, and also outstaningd are Mary Mackenzie, Beatrix Lehmann, Austin
Treviour, Barry Jones and peter Finch.
June 19, 1950
Pericles The cast
of John Harrison’s production of Pericles Prince of Tyre to be presented by the
Under Thirty Theatre Group at the Rudolf Steiner on Sunday next and July 9 will
include Paul Scofield as Pericles, Beatrix Lehmann as the Bawd, …
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