Nancy Price


Nancy Price, CBE, was an English actress on stage and screen, author and theatre director. Her acting career began in a repertory theatre company before progressing to the London stage, silent films, talkies and finally television. In addition to appearing on stage she became involved in theatre production and was a founder of the People's Theatre.

Personal life

Christened Lilian Nancy Bache Price in Kinver, Staffordshire, England, in 1880, Nancy was the daughter of William Henry Price and Sarah Mannix. Her mother was the granddaughter of Sir Henry Mannix. After schooling in her home village and then in nearby Malvern Wells she decided at an early age to become an actress. She married the actor Charles Maude on 17 May 1907, and they were together until his death in 1943. They had two daughters Joan Maude and Elizabeth Maude. Joan, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth's daughter Jennifer Phipps all went on to become actresses. Soon after Charles and Nancy's daughters were born, they made the village of Findon in Sussex her home, living in a cottage called 'Arcana' in Heather Lane on the Downs. Findon remained her home until her death in 1970.

Theatre career

Nancy joined F.R. Benson's theatre company whilst still at school. The company specialised in Shakespeare's plays and toured extensively in the provinces. Her first big break came when she caught the attention of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who cast her as Calypso in Stephen Phillips's production of Ulysses at Her Majesty's Theatre, London in 1902, a role in which she enjoyed great success. The part of Hilda Gunning was written for her by Arthur Wing Pinero in Letty, a role in which the theatre critic J. T. Grein said: "In Letty, while others enhanced their fame, Miss Nancy Price, in the part of Hilda, the shop-girl, made her name. If we read the character aright, Miss Price realised it well-nigh to perfection". In 1909 she appeared as Mrs. D'Aquila in George Dance's production of The Whip at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. She joined Edith Craig's Pioneer Players at the Kingsway Theatre in 1911 for a performance of Christopher St. John's The First Actress. In March 1912, she appeared as India in Sir Edward Elgar's Imperial Masque The Crown of India at the London Coliseum.
Together with the Dutch-born theatre impresario J.T. Grein, Nancy Price founded the People's National Theatre in 1930. Their first production was The Man from Blankleys by F. Anstey at the Fortune Theatre. When Grein left the company Nancy became its honorary director, and in 1932 a permanent home was found at the Little Theatre in the Adelphi with Nancy as manager. The enterprise came to an end with the destruction of the theatre in 1941. During this period, Nancy established the English School Theatre Movement, which toured productions of Shakespeare plays to working class children.
In the 1950 King's Birthday Honours, Nancy was awarded a CBE for services to the stage. In the same year, she gave her final stage performance as Martha Blanchard in Eden Phillpotts' The Orange Orchard at the New Lindsey Theatre.

Theatre performances

SeasonPlay TitleTheatreRoleNotes
1900PericlesShakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-AvonDiana
1900MacbethShakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-AvonHecate
1902UlyssesHer Majesty's Theatre, LondonCalypsoWritten by Stephen Phillips, produced by Beerbohm Tree
1902–03The Eternal CityHis Majesty's Theatre, LondonPrincess BelliniDramatisation of Hall Caine's novel of the same name
1903Em'lyAdelphi Theatre, LondonRosa Dartle
1903A Snug Little KingdomRoyalty Theatre, LondonSister Hope
1903The Two Mr. WetherbysImperial Theatre, LondonConstantiaStage Society production of St. John Hankin's first play
1903–04LettyDuke of York's Theatre, LondonHilda Gunning
1908The Gay Lord QuexGarrick Theatre, LondonSophy Fullgarney
1908–09A Modern AspasiaThe Aldwych Theatre, LondonMuriel MeredithPlay by Hamilton Fyfe, cast included her husband Charles Maude
1909One of the BestThe Aldwych Theatre, LondonEsther CoventryPlay by Seymour Hicks
1909The FountainThe Aldwych Theatre, LondonDinah KippinPlay by George Calderon
1909–10The WhipTheatre Royal, Drury Lane, LondonMrs. D'Aquila
1911The Vision of DelightHis Majesty's Theatre, LondonOne of The Twelve HoursPlay written by Ben Jonson Coronation Gala performance
1911The First ActressThe Kingsway Theatre, LondonMargaret Hughes
1911The Merchant of VeniceShakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-AvonPortia
1915–16Richard IIIHis Majesty's Theatre, London
1923Outward BoundEveryman Theatre, LondonMrs. Cliveden-BanksPlay by Sutton Vane
1923–24AmbushGarrick Theatre, LondonHarriett Nichols
1925Enrico IV Everyman Theatre, LondonMarchioness Matilda Spina
1925And That's the Truth Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, LondonSignora FrolaBased on play Così è by Luigi Pirandello
1925GlorianaLittle Theatre in the Adelphi, LondonPrincess ElizabethAppearing alongside John Gielgud
1929–30Belle: or What's the Bother?Prince Of Wales Theatre, LondonAnnie CollinsLater renamed as Down Our Street
1931The Silver BoxFortune Theatre, LondonMrs. JonesPlay written by John Galsworthy
1931SalomeSavoy Theatre, LondonHerodiasFirst public performance in England of Oscar Wilde's previously banned play
1932TriflesDuchess Theatre, LondonMrs. HalePlay written by Susan Glaspell
1932Alison's HouseLittle Theatre in the Adelphi, LondonMiss AgathaPulitzer Prize winning play written by Susan Glaspell
1934Nurse CavellVaudeville Theatre, LondonEdith CavellPlay written by C. E. Bechhofer Roberts and C.S. Forester
1939Mrs Van KleekPlayhouse Theatre, LondonMrs Van Kleek, the leadPlay written by Elinor Mordaunt from her book of the same name published 1933
ran 10 March to 15 April 1939
Queen Mary attended Friday 14 April 1939
1941–42WhiteoaksTheatre Royal, Bath and Comedy Theatre, London
1943Vintage WineGrand Theatre, BlackpoolMadame Popinot
1943–44John Gabriel BorkmanThe Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool
1944–45LisaThe Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool
1950The Orange OrchardNew Lindsey Theatre, LondonMartha Blanchard

Film career

Having established herself as a stage actress in London's West End, Nancy's first film role was in the black and white, silent film The Lyons Mail. In the next decade she appeared in a further eight silent films before her first 'talkie', The American Prisoner, which was recorded in mono sound in 1929. The last silent film in which she appeared The Price of Divorce was adapted by producer Oswald Mitchell to incorporate sound and released under the name Such is the Law.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1916The Lyons MailJanette
1921Belphegor the MountebankCountess de Blangy
1923Bonnie Prince CharlieLady KingsburghAppearing alongside Ivor Novello
1923The Woman Who ObeyedGoverness
1923Comin' Thro' the RyeMrs. Titmouse
1923Love, Life and LaughterBalloon blowers wife's friend
1927HuntingtowerMrs. MoranBased on novel by John Buchan
1928His House in OrderLady RidgeleySilent film which is believed lost.
1928The Price of Divorcereleased as Such is the Law
1929The American PrisonerLovey Lee
1930The Loves of Robert BurnsPosie Nancy
1930Such Is the LawAunt
1931The Speckled BandMrs. StauntonEarly Sherlock Holmes film
1932Down Our StreetAnnie Collins
1934The CrucifixMiss Bryany
1939The Stars Look DownMartha FenwickAdapted by A.J.Cronin
1940Dead Man's ShoesMadame PelletierRoddy McDowell in an early role
1942Secret MissionViolette, housekeeper
1944Madonna of the Seven MoonsMama BarucciProduced by Gainsborough Pictures
1945I Know Where I'm Going!Mrs. CrozierPetula Clark in an early role
1945I Live in Grosvenor SquareMrs. Wilson
1946CarnivalMrs. Trewhella
1947Master of BankdamLydia CrowtherNicholas Parsons in a minor role
1948The Three Weird SistersGertrude Morgan-VaughanScreenplay co-written by Dylan Thomas
1950The Naked HeartTheresa SuprenantFilm also known as Maria Chapdelaine
1952MandyJane EllisDistributed by Ealing Studios

Television filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1938Will ShakespeareQueen ElizabethBBC production
1948Nurse CavellEdith CavellBBC production
1949Down Our StreetAnnie CollinsBBC production
1950The Silver BoxMrs.JonesBBC production based on a play by John Galsworthy
1950Thérèse RaquinMadame RaquinBBC production based on novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola
1950The Orange OrchardMartha BlanchardBBC production
1951WhiteoaksGrandma Adeline WhiteoakBBC production

Plays