Plays and references from local newspapers on the British newspaper Archive 1941-1945

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Friday 17 January 1941

People’s convention – politics report

Nottingham Evening Post - Tuesday 04 March 1941(check date on Times)

Derby Daily Telegraph - Tuesday 04 March 1941

Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - Tuesday 04 March 1941

People’s convention and the BBC ban, mentions Michael Redgrave who Beatrix Lehmann acts with in 1944 and 1958 as well as "Miss Beatrix Lehmann the actress…"

Yorkshire Evening Post - Wednesday 05 March 1941

People’s convention BBC’s descision not to employ anyone who doesn’t support the war

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Wednesday 05 March 1941

Fighting the ban

Dundee Courier - Monday 17 March 1941

People’s convention – Delegates attended a convention in London in support of the programme for a “people’s government” after the war.

A thousand word resolution, moved by Miss Beatrix Lehmann the actress, pledged delegates to lose no time in carrying the convention’s message to all people in or out of uniform.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Tuesday 06 May 1941

Leeds production of Close quarters – announcement and description.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Friday 09 May 1941

Close quarters – ad “Next week the greatest play of the age, Close quarters, the sensation from the Haymarket Theatre. With only two characters starring Beatrix Lehmann and Karel Stepanek.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 10 May 1941

Close quarters- preview.

Close quarters the play in which they appear, has strong dramatic interest and is not lacking in thrills. ML’s last appearance in Leeds was in Desire under the Elms, in the early days of the war, in which she gave an excellent performance. Karel Stepanek is a Czech actor, who has made a name for himself in the West End. He escaped from Germany in 1939.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Monday 12 May 1941

Close quarters – ad

See the greatest play of all times, Close quarters with BL and KS This play held audiences spellbound at the Haymarket Theatre London, for over two years and shortly returns to the St. Martin’s theatre London. See how these two great artists can enthral an audience for over two hours.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Tuesday 13 May 1941

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Thursday 15 May 1941

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 17 May 1941

Close quarters smaller ad

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Wednesday 14 May 1941

Close quarters – Leeds review

But this is no mere thriller. As a tremendous piece of technical virtuosity, shutting out the whole world except for those two, it gives to Beatrix Lehmann a rare chance to show us the sources of her fame. But even that is not all.

It deals in the authentic pity and terror of human life. … as of BL all the can sensibly be said is that they are real, that they create for us the whole of that excluded world with its menace closing in. Only in retrospect can you assess the quality of Miss Lehmann’s acting, recall her deliberate awkwardness (only Hollywood women are elegant come what may), the way at the play’s climax she flinches from the sight of her husband’s tortured face, the way she tries to touch his hand. It is fine acting ….

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Monday 09 June 1941

New Theatre Hull – ad for Close Quarters

Hull Daily Mail - Saturday 14 June 1941

Preview – Close Quarters Hull

“should attract all the theatre-going public of Hull with its two brilliant lights of the theatrical firmament – BL and KS. The play itself is adapted from the French, Attentat by Somin and had a spectacular run at the Haymarket, London when it was first produced.

KS is the celebrated Czech stage and screen star who made headlines with his dramatic escape from Nazi Germany in 1939 (check for that) while BL is equally famous and remembered for her brilliant characterisations in She Walks Alone and Desire under the Elms, the latter play in which she came to Hull for the first time some 12 months ago.

Hull Daily Mail - Tuesday 17 June 1941

 Hull theatre – "Famous stars in unusual play" Close quarters –review

Beatrix Lehmann and Karel Stepanek are not merely acting Liesa and Gustav they are these two people, frantically in love with each other, and caught up in a net of political intrigue.

Between them they sustain one magnificent performance so that from the first moment the audience is caught up into the tension and not released until that final curtain, which is a theatrical masterpiece of irony. Symbolic of the times, Stepanek voices the thought of the masses when he cries out the anguish of his soul, “Oh god have you no power against the evil of the earth”.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Tuesday 17 June 1941

New Theatre Hull review of Close Quarters

The large audience at the New Theater, Hull last night were warmly appreciative of the acting of BL and KS in close quarters… as sustained dramatic acting it was a notable performance; as a presentation marked throughout by sympathy and complete understanding it was an outstanding achievement. BL mirrored the moods of the wife of a political agitator to ensure who advancement, as she hoped and expected, she made many sacrifices.

KS who escaped from Germany in 1939 has probably not been seen to greater advantage on stage or screen than in this moving play.

Kent & Sussex Courier - Friday 20 June 1941

Next week close quarters

Kent & Sussex Courier - Friday 20 June 1941

Assembly Hall theatre, Tunbridge Wells

Commencing June 24th Close Quarters ad.

Tues, wed, Thurs, sat at 3 – matinee

Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat at 7 0 evenings [wow twice a day!]

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Friday 20 June 1941

June 16th for 6 nights at New Theatre Hull – Close quarters

Kent & Sussex Courier - Friday 27 June 1941

Close quarters at Tunbridge Wells – review

The attraction at the Assembly Hall this week met with a rousing reception when it opened on Tuesday. Many people described it as being the finest play ever performed in the Hall, and there were manifold tributes to the acting of Miss Beatrix Lehmann and Karel S. The play is unusual in that there are only two characters… There was certainly no hint of monotony in Tuesday’s evening’s performance, for Miss Lehmann and Mr S held one’s attention from beginning to end…. In this part Miss Lehmann contributes some of the finest emotional acting yet seen in the theatre. MS’s acting too is on a part with that of Miss Lehmann in his role…

Western Daily Press - Saturday 12 July 1941

Ad for Close quarters at Theatre Royal Bath

Daily sketch says, fine acting, tense drama, lively humour, brilliantly performed.

(followed by Dame Sybil Thorndike next week)

Performed Mon-fri 7.30 wed 2.30, 5.50 and 8.15 sat

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Saturday 12 July 1941

Western Daily Press - Saturday 12 July 1941

Ad for Close quarters at Theatre Royal Bath

Western Daily Press - Wednesday 16 July 1941

Review –Close quarters Bath

Beatrix Lehmann and KS played in the interesting two character thriller Close quarters at the Theatre Royal Bath. The play was capitally presented and held a very large audience spellbound. There will be two performances Saturday.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 19 July 1941

Close quarters will play Prince’s Theatre Bradford

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Tuesday 22 July 1941

Prince’s Theatre Bradford Close quarters  production – review

More than ordinary skill and ingenuity are shown in Close quarters which is at the PT, B this week before production in London. … Somin’s play is dramatically intense and the ability of Miss Beatrix Lehmann and MKS the only two players – is such that they hold the attention of the audience throughouth. The play makes great demands upon their artistic insight but their concentration never flags and they avoid the danger of overdoing the dramatic. As a result they achieve an outstanding success in a performance which will be remembered for a long time by those who see it. …

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Saturday 13 December 1941

Liliput – Dec 41 issue – has Beatrix Lehmann and Rene Ray as subject of photographs/charcitures. 

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 21 February 1942

Jam to-day review

London theatre-goers had a real first night last evening when Jam To-day a light comedy with sparkling dialogue was presented at St Martin’s Theatre. Practically ever West End production since war began has had a preliminary try-out elsewhere. This play had been performed only once before an audience and that was a dress rehersal.

The authors, Waldock and Burford have given some amusingly unusual turns to the not unfamiliar stage story of the elderly and slightly pompous husband whose wife goess of the rails in his absence.

BL who everyone associates with dramatic and even frightening parts, gives a brilliant performance. …

Edinburgh Evening News - Tuesday 17 March 1942

The Mayfair Touch communist party reception

The communist party are holding a reception at one of the most exclusive restaurants in Mayfair on Thursday, the occasion is the launching of a 40,000 victory fund. I am told that among those who have accepted invitations are the Dean of Canturybury… MBL the actress.. hundreds of invitations have been issues.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Tuesday 16 February 1943

Grand Theatre Leeds – Uncle Harry with BL and Eric Portman (different male lead and listed first)

Lancashire Evening Post - Tuesday 16 February 1943

Next week uncle harry

Lancashire Evening Post - Tuesday 16 February 1943

Blackpool – Grand Theatre Uncle Harry

Yorkshire Evening Post - Wednesday 17 February 1943

Yorkshire Evening Post - Thursday 18 February 1943

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Thursday 18 February 1943

Lancashire Evening Post - Thursday 18 February 1943

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Friday 19 February 1943

Yorkshire Evening Post - Friday 19 February 1943

Yorkshire Evening Post - Saturday 20 February 1943

Week commencing Mar 1 – Grand Theatre Leeds – UH

Lancashire Evening Post - Saturday 20 February 1943

Uncle Harry – ad

Monday Next Eric Portman, BL in Uncle Harry with Eileen Peel, Martina Hunt and Full West End Cast, prior to London presentation. (interesting)

Yorkshire Evening Post - Monday 22 February 1943

Yorkshire Evening Post - Tuesday 23 February 1943

Theatre Royal Leeds – Uncle Harry ad

Next week the two great Yorkshire and London stars of stage and screen, Eric Portman and BL in the thrilling new drama Uncle Harry.

Lancashire Evening Post - Tuesday 23 February 1943

Grand Theatre Blackpool ad for Uncle Harry

 

Yorkshire Evening Post - Wednesday 24 February 1943

Grand Theatre Leeds Uncle Harry –next week ad

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Wednesday 24 February 1943

Yorkshire Evening Post - Thursday 25 February 1943

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Thursday 25 February 1943

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Friday 26 February 1943

Yorkshire Evening Post - Saturday 27 February 1943

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 27 February 1943

Yorkshire Evening Post - Monday 01 March 1943

Leeds Uncle Harry preview Ad

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 27 February 1943

preview

Yorkshire Evening Post - Tuesday 02 March 1943

Yorkshire Evening Post - Wednesday 03 March 1943

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Wednesday 03 March 1943

Yorkshire Evening Post - Thursday 04 March 1943

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Thursday 04 March 1943

Yorkshire Evening Post - Friday 05 March 1943

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 06 March 1943

Uncle Harry Ad – playing eveings 6 matines Tuesday and Saturday

Yorkshire Evening Post - Tuesday 02 March 1943

Leeds Grand Theatre – uncle harry review

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Monday 08 March 1943

Bradford Prince’s Theatre

Uncle Harry commencing March 22nd

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 13 March 1943

Uncle Harry  Bradford preview – Continuing it’s provincial tour before production in London.. [which it didn’t actually managed but opened the following year with a different male lead]

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Tuesday 16 March 1943

Bradford Prince’s review of Uncle Harry

Yorkshire Evening Post - Wednesday 17 March 1943

Bradford Prince’s ad Uncle Harry 

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 26 June 1943

Ghosts – Duke of York theatre – review

“that fine tragic actress, MBL gave a performance of restrained intensity.”

Aberdeen Journal - Wednesday 19 January 1944

Aberdeen Journal - Saturday 22 January 1944

Aberdeen Journal - Monday 24 January 1944

Week commencing Feb 1st Michael Redgrave and Beatrix Lehmann in Uncle Harry HM theatre Aberdeen

Aberdeen Journal - Tuesday 25 January 1944

Aberdeen Journal - Tuesday 25 January 1944

Aberdeen Journal - Wednesday 26 January 1944

Aberdeen Journal - Thursday 27 January 1944

Aberdeen Journal - Friday 28 January 1944

Aberdeen Journal - Saturday 29 January 1944

Aberdeen Journal - Monday 31 January 1944

Aberdeen Journal - Tuesday 01 February 1944

Aberdeen Journal - Wednesday 02 February 1944

Aberdeen Journal - Thursday 03 February 1944

Aberdeen Journal - Friday 04 February 1944

 Ad for Uncle Harry “the British thriller which startled Broadway” 

Aberdeen Journal - Wednesday 02 February 1944

Uncle Harry – His Majesty’s Theatre – review

“we have a play and we have acting.
Perhaps one is better than the other, but that is a point of view, at any rate, one leads to the other.

… apart from its thrills – the definitely exist and so does its humour – it is  study in the genre

So constructed, so it is played, at times it seems almost under played, until gradually and subtly the whole effect is achived. It has a crowning last act in acting and writing.

… The Pathos, tenseness, tragedy – achieved in little touches as well as breadth – are marvellously kept and consistent throughout.

He has his counterpart in Beatrix Lehmann’s Letty,…but in her magnificenct last act one remembered Mourning becomes Electra. Few can suggest queer tragedy like Miss Lehmann. She has a gift that stands by itself….

The audience was in great coughing form and nearly spoiled the opening for those who could not join the hoast.

Sunday Post - Sunday 06 February 1944

Uncle Harry at the Lyceum in Edinburgh – ad

Sunday Post - Sunday 13 February 1944

Uncle Harry at Royal theatre Glasgow

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Thursday 30 March 1944

Uncle Harry review – Garrick

Uncle Harry… reached the Garrick Theatre tonight after a long tour. When the play was originally seen in the north Mr. Eric Portman, himself a Yorkshireman, played the part of the schoolmaster murderer. Mr. Michael Redgrave, The present exponent, is in some difficulties with the Yorkshire accent, but gives a performance of steadily mounting nervous and emotional tension. He is sensitively supported by Miss Beatrix Lehmann as the sister on whom the murderer successfully places the blame for his crime.

The play much impressed the London first night audience, although the irregularities of the procedure in the final prison scene are a blemish on an effective study in the ironic and macabre.

Hull Daily Mail - Wednesday 12 July 1944

Hull Daily Mail - Thursday 13 July 1944

Hull Daily Mail - Friday 14 July 1944

Hull Daily Mail - Monday 17 July 1944

Hull Daily Mail - Wednesday 19 July 1944

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Thursday 20 July 1944

Hull Daily Mail - Friday 21 July 1944

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Friday 21 July 1944

New Theatre Hull Michael Redgrave and Beatrix Lehmann Uncle Harry from July 24th – ad

Hull Daily Mail - Friday 21 July 1944

Hull New Theatre – Uncle Harry – preview

Michael Redgrave, one of the leading British actors on the stage to-day pays his first visit to Hull next week in the title role of Uncle Harry, the thriller which comes to the New Theatre from a successful run at the Garrick Theatre, London…

Equally famous stage star Beatrix Lehmann remembered particularly for her outstanding portrayls in Desire under the Elms and Mourning becomes Electra works with MR next week.

Northampton Mercury - Friday 21 July 1944

New Theatre – Northampton Uncle Harry – ad “the entire production direct from the Garrick Theatre, London”. 

Hull Daily Mail - Saturday 22 July 1944

Uncle Harry, New Theatre Hull = preview – photo of Beatrix Lehamnn and Michael Redgrave

The war has brought us some of the leading lights of the west end stage and first class London productions…

Hull Daily Mail - Monday 24 July 1944

Hull Daily Mail - Tuesday 25 July 1944

Hull Daily Mail - Wednesday 26 July 1944

Hull Daily Mail - Friday 28 July 1944

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Friday 28 July 1944

New Theatre Hull – ad Uncle Harry

Hull Daily Mail - Tuesday 25 July 1944

New Theatre Hull – Uncle Harry – review

“Hull has a golden opportunity to see the best in theatre at the new this week, for the most carping critic could find no fault with the West End company which stages a gripping performance of Thomas Job’s Uncle Harry…

“nobody knows what goes on in my mind – sometimes I hardly know myself” MR is far away from his favourite Shakespearen roles, but yet not so far…

In this sadistic family of three there are two sisters, the one Beatrix Lehmann with her strange slant eyes and inscrutable smile, who brings all her art to bear to build up the complete picture of the possessive Lettie. Both she and MR present exhaustively emotional performances, exploiting the art of making up for impressive transformation…

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Wednesday 30 August 1944

Plays given in pubs with Beatrix Lehmann but mostly amateurs

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Saturday 09 September 1944

First to return to Town of the plays evacuated from London by the flying bombs was Uncle Harry, that grim and effective thriller by Thomas Job… This play came back last night to the Garrick Theatre, its former home. It was cordially received by a crowded audience.

The company, with one exception, is the same as before. All the principles are in their old parts. If London is reasonably free from serial attack several other shows which left London during the recent raids, including some of the big musicals, will be returning soon. Already about 20 west end theatres are open compared with 12 during the worst stages of the flying bomb attacks. Business during the past few days has been extraordinarily good.

Western Gazette - Friday 22 September 1944

Cinema ad for Candles at nine

(BL listed third)

Sussex Agricultural Express - Friday 10 November 1944

Performance for “the cheerios” for servicemen, Magic and music produced by Miss Winifred Ball, Included distinguished guests … Beatrix Lehmann.

Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 18 November 1944

Lancashire Evening Post - Monday 20 November 1944

Lancashire Evening Post - Tuesday 21 November 1944

Lancashire Evening Post - Thursday 23 November 1944

Cinema ad for Candles at nine

Kent & Sussex Courier - Friday 24 November 1944

Cinema ad for Candles at nine also showing the Rat _ Beatrix Lehmann double bill! Capitol Tunbridge Wells

Kent & Sussex Courier - Friday 24 November 1944

Candles at nine review. Is the story of a girl who inherits a fortune subject to staying at the dececased’s residence one month and how the schemeing relatives make the position intolerable for her…

Lancashire Evening Post - Friday 24 November 1944

Candles at nine ad

Western Times - Friday 15 December 1944

Oden – Devon Candles at nine

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Monday 18 December 1944

Shakespearian actors voices recorded and flown to Russia as a greeting for soviet actors. MBL, Michael Redgrave, Sybil, Giegud, Fay Compton, Henry Ainley… [ at this point I don’t think Bea has done Shakespeare on stage but will do post war]

North Devon Journal - Thursday 11 January 1945

North Devon Journal - Thursday 25 January 1945

Candles at nine ad

Bucks Herald - Friday 12 January 1945

Candles at nine ad

Burnley Express - Saturday 27 January 1945

Candles at nine ad

Nottingham Evening Post - Saturday 10 February 1945

Candles at nine – description

Gloucestershire Echo - Tuesday 27 February 1945

Letter to the editor – on “civic theatre” Club Drama Group’s production of they walk alone, “I was fortunate enough to see MBL’s portrayal of Emmy on the London stage, but I am sure ML would be the first to agree that the performance of the young lady who took this part – a Miss Tarrant I believe” did her no injustice”.

Nottingham Evening Post - Monday 05 March 1945

Nottingham Evening Post - Tuesday 06 March 1945

Nottingham Evening Post - Wednesday 07 March 1945

Nottingham Evening Post - Saturday 10 March 1945

Cinema- candles at nine ad

Hull Daily Mail - Wednesday 04 April 1945

Formation of the Green Room club in connection with the Hull new theatre, Founder members Gielgud, Lord, Air commordore, etc Olivier, Michael Redgrave, Beatrix Lehmann…

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Wednesday 04 April 1945

Also report on the Green Room Club

Dundee Courier - Monday 23 April 1945

A few enthusiastis in the political world paid five shillings for a seat in the Cambridge Theatre where Beatrix Lehmann read exceprets from Shakespeare.

Burnley Express - Saturday 26 May 1945

Candles at nine cinema ad

Nottingham Evening Post - Saturday 09 June 1945

Nottingham Evening Post - Tuesday 12 June 1945

Candles at nine cinema ad

Dundee Evening Telegraph - Wednesday 11 July 1945

*new play*

In the play, The trial of Lizzie Borden, on Monday the title part will be played by Beatrix Lehmann.

Gloucester Citizen - Wednesday 10 October 1945

Gloucester Citizen - Thursday 11 October 1945

Gloucester Citizen - Friday 12 October 1945

Candles at nine  cinema ad

Lincolnshire Echo - Tuesday 30 October 1945

Arts council BL producing The corn is green at South Park Girls School.

(Hm what has happened here? Went from HUGE successes to nothing, then producing very small role)

Lincolnshire Echo - Saturday 03 November 1945

Lincolnshire Echo - Wednesday 14 November 1945

Ad for the Corn is Green