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{{short description|English theatrical producer and manager}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}

{{Refimprove|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name = Lilian Mary Baylis
|name = Lilian Baylis
|honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CH}}
|image = Baylis.jpg
|caption = Lilian Baylis and friend c. 1920
|image = Lilian-Baylis-1924.png
|caption = Baylis in 1924
|birth_name = Lilian Mary Baylis
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1874|5|9}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1874|5|9}}
|birth_place = [[Marylebone]], London, England
|birth_place = [[Marylebone]], London, England
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1937|11|25|1874|5|9}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1937|11|25|1874|5|9}}
|death_place = [[Lambeth]], London, England
|death_place = [[Lambeth]], London
|resting_place = [[East London Cemetery]]
|resting_place = [[East London Cemetery]]
|resting_place_coordinates =
|resting_place_coordinates =
Line 16: Line 19:
|known_for = Revived [[Old Vic]] and [[Sadler's Wells]] Theatre. Founded forerunners of [[English National Opera]], [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]] and [[Royal Ballet]].
|known_for = Revived [[Old Vic]] and [[Sadler's Wells]] Theatre. Founded forerunners of [[English National Opera]], [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]] and [[Royal Ballet]].
}}
}}
'''Lilian Mary Baylis'''<ref>Schafer, Elizabeth (2006), "Lilian Baylis: A Biography". University of Hertfordshire Press, Hatfield. {{ISBN|1-902806-63-8}}</ref>
'''Lilian Mary Baylis'''<ref>Schafer, Elizabeth (2006), "Lilian Baylis: A Biography". University of Hertfordshire Press, Hatfield. {{ISBN|1-902806-63-8}}</ref> (9 May 1874{{spaced ndash}}25 November 1937) was an English theatrical producer and manager. She managed the [[Old Vic]] and [[Sadler's Wells]] theatres in London and ran an opera company, which became the [[English National Opera]] (ENO); a theatre company, which evolved into the English [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]]; and a ballet company, which eventually became [[The Royal Ballet]].
[[Order of the Companions of Honour|CH]] (9 May 1874{{spaced ndash}}25 November 1937) was an English theatrical producer and manager. She managed the [[Old Vic]] and [[Sadler's Wells]] theatres in London and ran an opera company, which became the [[English National Opera]] (ENO); a theatre company, which evolved into the English [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]]; and a ballet company, which eventually became [[The Royal Ballet]].


==Early years==
==Early life==
Lilian Baylis was born in [[Marylebone]], London, England<ref>http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-births-1837-2006?firstname=lilian&lastname=baylis&eventyear=1874&eventyear_offset=0</ref> to parents Newton Baylis and Elizabeth (Liebe) Cons. She was the eldest of six children, and grew up surrounded by music and performance. Her mother was a successful vocalist and pianist, and Baylis's education was grounded in the arts; she began performing and teaching music at an early age. She attended St. Augustine's school, Kilburn. She also took violin lessons with leading professionals, such as John Tiplady Carrodus, who was principal first violin at Covent Garden.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Lilian Baylis|last=Thorndike|first=Sybil and Russel|publisher=Chapman and Hall|year=1938|isbn=|location=London|pages=}}</ref>
Lilian Baylis was born in [[Marylebone]], London, England <ref>{{cite web |title=Search Results for England & Wales Births 1837-2006 |url=http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-births-1837-2006?firstname=lilian&lastname=baylis&eventyear=1874&eventyear_offset=0 |website=www.findmypast.co.uk}}</ref> to parents Newton Baylis and Elizabeth (Liebe) {{nee}} Cons (or Konss). She was the eldest of six children, and grew up surrounded by music and performance. Her mother was a successful singer and pianist, and Baylis's education was grounded in the arts; she began performing and teaching music at an early age. She attended St. Augustine's school, [[Kilburn, London|Kilburn]]. She also took violin lessons at the ''Royal Academy of Music'' with leading professionals, such as [[John Tiplady Carrodus]], who was principal first violin at [[Royal Opera House|Covent Garden]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Lilian Baylis|last=Thorndike|first=Sybil and Russel|publisher=Chapman and Hall|year=1938|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Gilbert|first= Susie |author-link= |date= 3 Mar 2011|title= Opera for Everybody: The Story of English National Opera | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=3Q-4GoEnnYEC|access-date= 23 March 2022|location= London | publisher= Faber & Faber | page=13| isbn= 978-0-571-26865-8}}</ref>


==South Africa==
==South Africa==
In 1891, the Baylis family emigrated to South Africa when their performance troupe "The Gypsy Revellers" were offered a long-term contract to tour and perform there. As a teenager Lilian played violin and mandolin in "The Gypsy Revellers". She also taught her mother's music and dance students. She earned a good living and played in many concerts. When Baylis fell ill and had to have an operation on her kidneys, her family became concerned for her heath, especially as the country was in turmoil after [[the Jameson Raid]]. Baylis returned to London to recuperate and her aunt [[Emma Cons]] offered her a job at The Royal Victoria Hall and Coffee Tavern which she managed. Baylis spent most of her adolescent years in South Africa and, in leaving, she left behind her family, many close friends, and a fiance.
In 1891, the Baylis family emigrated to South Africa when their performance troupe "The Gypsy Revellers" were offered a long-term contract to tour and perform there. As a teenager Lilian played violin and mandolin in "The Gypsy Revellers". She also taught her mother's music and dance students. She earned a good living and played in many concerts. When Baylis fell ill and had to have an operation on her kidneys, her family became concerned for her heath, especially as the country was in turmoil after the [[Jameson Raid]]. Baylis returned to London to recuperate and her aunt [[Emma Cons]] offered her a job at [[The Old Vic|The Royal Victoria Hall and Coffee Tavern]] (known as "The Old Vic"), which she managed. Having spent most of her adolescent years in South Africa, Baylis left behind her family, many close friends, and a fiancé.

After arriving in London she met 12-year-old [[Beatrice Gordon Holmes|Gordon Holmes]], and the two would become close lifelong friends – Baylis had been romantically involved with Holmes' maternal uncle in Johannesburg, and used to quip to Holmes that, "you know, my dear, if I had married your Uncle Jack, you would be my niece!"<ref>{{Cite book|last=Schafer|first=Elizabeth|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U4Y6Jyc0vSAC&q=beatrice+gordon+holmes+in+love+with+life&pg=PA36|title=Lilian Baylis: A Biography|date=2006|publisher=Univ of Hertfordshire Press|isbn=978-1-902806-64-8|language=en}}</ref>


== The Old Vic ==
== The Old Vic ==
Baylis assisted Emma Cons in running [[Old Vic|The Royal Victoria Hall and Coffee Tavern]] near [[London Waterloo railway station|Waterloo station]], and gradually took on more management duties running concerts, film shows, lecture programmes and variety shows. Following Cons' death in 1912, Baylis became lessee and obtained a theatre licence for The Royal Victoria Hall to begin staging theatrical performances.
Baylis assisted Emma Cons in running the Old Vic, and gradually took on more management duties running concerts, film shows, lecture programmes and variety shows. Following Cons' death in 1912, Baylis became lessee and obtained a theatre licence for the Royal Victoria Hall to begin staging theatrical performances.


Initially Baylis was interested in opera which she preferred to every other art form. Baylis joined forces with [[Charles Corri]] to arrange and perform operas at The Old Vic with a small orchestra and limited resources. Plays were introduced to the Old Vic by Rosina Filippi, husband and wife team, Matheson Lang and Hutin Britton, and Sir Philip Ben Greet. The plays of [[William Shakespeare]] were often performed and Baylis claimed that the Old Vic had become the London 'Home of Shakespeare'. In the run up to the 300th anniversary of the publication of the [[First Folio]] Baylis produced all of Shakespeare's plays, even the ones she knew would be unlikely to generate many ticket sales. The tradition of doing Shakespeare at the Old Vic continued for many years and performers such as [[John Gielgud]] and [[Laurence Olivier]] were willing to work for low wages if they could play the great Shakespearean roles.<ref>Findlater, Richard (1975), ''Lilian Baylis: The Lady of the Old Vic''. London: Allen Lane.</ref><ref>Hamilton, Cecily and Baylis, Lilian (1926), ''The Old Vic''. London: Cape.</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Lilian Baylis: A Biography|last=Schafer|first=Elizabeth|publisher=Hatfield: University of Hertfordshire|year=2006|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Old Vic: The Story of a Great Theatre from Kean to Olivier to Spacey|last=Coleman|first=Terry|publisher=Faber & Faber Limited|year=2014|isbn=|location=London|pages=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oldvictheatre.com|title=The Old Vic|last=|first=|date=|website=About Us - The Old Vic|publisher=Arts Council England|access-date=23 February 2016}}</ref>
Initially Baylis was interested in opera, which she preferred to every other art form. She joined forces with [[Charles Corri]] to arrange and perform operas at the Old Vic with a small orchestra and limited resources. Plays were introduced to the Old Vic by Rosina Filippi, husband and wife team, Matheson Lang and Hutin Britton, and Sir Philip Ben Greet. The plays of [[William Shakespeare]] were often performed and Baylis claimed that the Old Vic had become the London 'Home of Shakespeare'. In the run up to the 300th anniversary of the publication of the [[First Folio]] Baylis produced all of Shakespeare's plays, even the ones she knew would be unlikely to generate many ticket sales. The tradition of doing Shakespeare at the Old Vic continued for many years and performers such as [[John Gielgud]] and [[Laurence Olivier]] were willing to work for low wages if they could play the great Shakespearean roles.<ref>Findlater, Richard (1975), ''Lilian Baylis: The Lady of the Old Vic''. London: Allen Lane.</ref><ref>Hamilton, Cecily and Baylis, Lilian (1926), ''The Old Vic''. London: Cape.</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Lilian Baylis: A Biography|last=Schafer|first=Elizabeth|publisher=Hatfield: University of Hertfordshire|year=2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Old Vic: The Story of a Great Theatre from Kean to Olivier to Spacey|last=Coleman|first=Terry|publisher=Faber & Faber Limited|year=2014|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oldvictheatre.com|title=The Old Vic|website=About Us - The Old Vic|publisher=Arts Council England|access-date=23 February 2016}}</ref>


==Sadler's Wells==
==Sadler's Wells==
[[Image:Waterloo the old vic 1.jpg|thumb|150px|The Old Vic Theatre from the corner of [[Baylis Road]].]]
[[Image:Waterloo the old vic 1.jpg|thumb|150px|The Old Vic Theatre from the corner of [[Baylis Road]].]]
In 1925, Baylis began a campaign to re-open the derelict [[Sadler's Wells]] Theatre, something she finally achieved with a gala opening on 6 January 1931 of a production of Shakespeare's ''[[Twelfth Night]]'' starring [[John Gielgud]] as Malvolio and [[Ralph Richardson]] as [[Toby Belch]]. Acquiring Sadler's Wells enabled Baylis to develop her plans for a dance company, something she had wished to do since 1928 when she hired [[Ninette de Valois]] to improve the standard of dancing in operas and plays at the Old Vic. For several years the opera, drama and ballet companies known as the "Vic-Wells" companies, moved between the Old Vic and Sadler's Wells but by 1935 the ballet company, which now included [[Margot Fonteyn]] and [[Robert Helpmann]], with guest appearances from [[Alicia Markova]] and [[Anton Dolin]], tended to perform at Sadler's Wells. Musical direction was by [[Constant Lambert]], and choreography for new works by de Valois and rising star [[Frederick Ashton]]. The ballet company's descendants today are the Royal Ballet and the [[Birmingham]] Royal Ballet. Today the Sadler's Wells Theatre is primarily a dance venue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sadlerswells.com|title=Sadler's Wells Theatre - London's Dance House|website=Sadlerswells.com|access-date=2016-04-17}}</ref>
In 1925, Baylis began a campaign to re-open the derelict [[Sadler's Wells Theatre]], something she finally achieved with a gala opening on 6 January 1931 of a production of Shakespeare's ''[[Twelfth Night]]'' starring [[John Gielgud]] as Malvolio and [[Ralph Richardson]] as [[Toby Belch]]. Acquiring Sadler's Wells enabled Baylis to develop her plans for a dance company, something she had wished to do since 1926 when she engaged [[Ninette de Valois]] to improve the standard of dancing in operas and plays at the Old Vic.<ref>{{cite ODNB | url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-71607 | isbn=978-0-19-861412-8 | doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/71607 | title=The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography | date=2004 }}</ref> For several years the opera, drama and ballet companies known as the "Vic-Wells" companies, moved between the Old Vic and Sadler's Wells but by 1935 the ballet company, which now included [[Margot Fonteyn]] and [[Robert Helpmann]], with guest appearances from [[Alicia Markova]] and [[Anton Dolin (ballet dancer)|Anton Dolin]], tended to perform at Sadler's Wells. Musical direction was by [[Constant Lambert]], and choreography for new works by de Valois and rising star [[Frederick Ashton]]. The ballet company's descendants today are the Royal Ballet and the [[Birmingham]] Royal Ballet. Today the Sadler's Wells Theatre is primarily a dance venue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sadlerswells.com|title=Sadler's Wells Theatre - London's Dance House|website=Sadlerswells.com|access-date=2016-04-17}}</ref>


==Growing stars==
==Growing stars==
The Vic-Wells nurtured the careers of stars such as [[Laurence Olivier]], [[John Gielgud]], [[Peggy Ashcroft]], [[Sybil Thorndike]], [[Edith Evans]], [[Alec Guinness]], [[Michael Redgrave]], [[Maurice Evans (actor)|Maurice Evans]] and [[Ralph Richardson]], and became famous for stylish productions under the artistic directorship of [[Tyrone Guthrie]] during the 1930s. In 1937 Guthrie's production of ''[[Hamlet]]'' played at [[Elsinore]]/[[Helsingør]] in Denmark, with Olivier in the title role, and [[Vivien Leigh]] as [[Hamlet|Ophelia]]. [[John Gielgud|Gielgud's]] first performance as [[Hamlet]] in 1930 became the first [[Old Vic Theatre|Old Vic]] production to be transferred to the West End for a run. Baylis scored a casting coup in 1933 by featuring [[Charles Laughton]] at the theatre after he had become a worldwide name in the film ''[[The Private Life of Henry VIII]]''. To exploit the audiences' interest in the film, she cast [[Charles Laughton|Laughton]] as [[Shakespeare]]'s [[Henry VIII (play)|Henry VIII]].
The Vic-Wells nurtured the careers of stars such as [[Laurence Olivier]], [[John Gielgud]], [[Peggy Ashcroft]], [[Sybil Thorndike]], [[Edith Evans]], [[Alec Guinness]], [[Marius Goring]], [[Michael Redgrave]], [[Maurice Evans (actor)|Maurice Evans]] and [[Ralph Richardson]], and became famous for stylish productions under the artistic directorship of [[Tyrone Guthrie]] during the 1930s. In 1937 Guthrie's production of ''[[Hamlet]]'' played at [[Elsinore]]/[[Helsingør]] in Denmark, with Olivier in the title role, and [[Vivien Leigh]] as [[Hamlet|Ophelia]]. [[John Gielgud|Gielgud's]] first performance as [[Hamlet]] in 1930 became the first [[Old Vic Theatre|Old Vic]] production to be transferred to the West End for a run. Baylis scored a casting coup in 1933 by featuring [[Charles Laughton]] at the theatre after he had become a worldwide name in the film ''[[The Private Life of Henry VIII]]''. To exploit the audiences' interest in the film, she cast [[Charles Laughton|Laughton]] as [[Shakespeare]]'s [[Henry VIII (play)|Henry VIII]].


==Recognition and death==
==Recognition and death==
Baylis was awarded an honorary master's degree from [[Oxford University]] for her work in the theatre in 1924, only the second such honour to be given to a woman by the university. In 1929 she was made a [[Order of the Companions of Honour|Companion of Honour]] (CH) for service to the nation. In 1934 [[Birmingham University]] awarded Baylis an honorary doctorate. A [[Greater London Council]] [[blue plaque]] commemorates Baylis at her home, 27 Stockwell Park Road in Stockwell, South London.<ref name='EngHet'>{{cite web| url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/discover/blue-plaques/search/baylis-lilian-1874-1937|title=BAYLIS, LILIAN (1874–1937)|publisher=English Heritage| accessdate=20 October 2012}}</ref> and the [[Lilian Baylis Technology School]], Kennington is so named in her honour.
Baylis was awarded an honorary master's degree from [[Oxford University]] for her work in the theatre in 1924, only the fourth such honour to be given to a woman by the university. In 1929 she was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour]] (CH) for service to the nation. In 1934 [[Birmingham University]] awarded Baylis an honorary doctorate. A [[Greater London Council]] [[blue plaque]] commemorates Baylis at her home, 27 Stockwell Park Road in Stockwell, South London.<ref name='EngHet'>{{cite web| url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/discover/blue-plaques/search/baylis-lilian-1874-1937|title=BAYLIS, LILIAN (1874–1937)|publisher=English Heritage| access-date=20 October 2012}}</ref> and the [[Lilian Baylis Technology School]], Kennington is so named in her honour.


After a long illness, Baylis died of a heart attack on 25 November 1937, aged 63 in [[Lambeth]], [[South London]],<ref>http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-deaths-1837-2007?firstname=lilian%20m&lastname=baylis&eventyear=1937&eventyear_offset=1&yearofbirth=1874&yearofbirth_offset=0</ref> the night before the Old Vic was to open a production of ''[[Macbeth]]'' starring Laurence Olivier and [[Judith Anderson]].<ref>Tanitch, Robert, "Olivier". Abbeville Press</ref> She was cremated at [[East London Cemetery]] and Crematorium, where her ashes were scattered at her own request. There is a memorial plaque for Lilian Baylis at the Actors' Church, St Paul's, in the heart of Covent Garden.
After a long illness, Baylis died of a heart attack on 25 November 1937, aged 63 in [[Lambeth]], [[South London]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Search Results for England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007 |url=http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-deaths-1837-2007?firstname=lilian%20m&lastname=baylis&eventyear=1937&eventyear_offset=1&yearofbirth=1874&yearofbirth_offset=0 |website=www.findmypast.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> the night before the Old Vic was to open a production of ''[[Macbeth]]'' starring Laurence Olivier and [[Judith Anderson]].<ref>Tanitch, Robert, "Olivier". Abbeville Press</ref> She was cremated at [[East London Cemetery]] and Crematorium, where her ashes were scattered at her request. There is a memorial plaque for Lilian Baylis at the Actors' Church, St Paul's, in the heart of Covent Garden.


== Influence ==
== Influence ==


In 1985, English National Opera created an education and outreach department, naming it the Baylis Programme called in Lilian Baylis's honour. The Baylis Programme (now called '''eno baylis''') was led for ten years by its founder directors Rebecca Meitlis and David Sulkin. Subsequent directors included Steve Moffitt<ref>[http://25by4.channel4.com/chapter_7/article_7/page_1] {{dead link|date=November 2016}}</ref> and Alice King-Farlow. In the Lilian Baylis tradition the work of ENO Baylis focusses on those who are new to opera. It involves around 12,000 people every year in a wide range of projects, events, courses and performances, with a goal of developing creative responses to opera and music theatre; making new work with communities and exploring individual creativity as a means of providing access to ENO's productions; and encouraging learning and development through participation of artists and collaboration of resources.
In 1985, English National Opera created an education and outreach department, naming it the Baylis Programme called in Lilian Baylis's honour. The Baylis Programme (later called ENO Baylis and recently renamed to '''ENO Engage'''<ref>{{cite web |last1=ENO Engage |title=ENO Engage |url=https://www.eno.org/discover-opera/eno-engage/}}</ref>) was led for ten years by its founder directors Rebecca Meitlis and David Sulkin. Subsequent directors included Steve Moffitt,<ref>[http://25by4.channel4.com/chapter_7/article_7/page_1] {{dead link|date=November 2016}}</ref> Alice King-Farlow and Jenny Mollica now CEO of ENO. In the Lilian Baylis tradition the work of ENO Engage focusses on those who are new to opera. It involves around 12,000 people every year in a wide range of projects, events, courses and performances, with a goal of developing creative responses to opera and music theatre; making new work with communities and exploring individual creativity as a means of providing access to ENO's productions; and encouraging learning and development through participation of artists and collaboration of resources.


The current Sadler's Wells Theatre contains a 200-seat theatre named after her, and the National Theatre has a Lilian Baylis terrace. The upper circle in the Old Vic is called the Lilian Baylis Circle. A building in West Hampstead used by ENO for rehearsals and production wardrobe is called Lilian Baylis House. In [[Vauxhall]] the Lillian Baylis secondary school is also named in her honour. There is a Lilian Baylis [[rose]], and the Royal Victoria Hall Foundation administers the annual Lilian Baylis awards for promising acting students. A street alongside Waterloo station is named [[Baylis Road]].
The current Sadler's Wells Theatre contains a 200-seat theatre named after her, and the National Theatre has a Lilian Baylis Terrace. The upper circle in the Old Vic is called the Lilian Baylis Circle. A building in West Hampstead used by ENO for rehearsals and production wardrobe is called Lilian Baylis House. In [[Vauxhall]] the Lillian Baylis Secondary School is also named in her honour. There is a Lilian Baylis [[Rose]], and the Royal Victoria Hall Foundation administers the annual Lilian Baylis Awards for promising acting students. A street alongside Waterloo station is named [[Baylis Road]].


== References ==
== References ==
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== External links ==
== External links ==

*
{{Wikisource author}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Women theatre managers and producers]]
[[Category:Women theatre managers and producers]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the Companions of Honour]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the Companions of Honour]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from London]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:Theatre in London]]
[[Category:Theatre in London]]
[[Category:History of the London Borough of Lambeth]]
[[Category:History of the London Borough of Lambeth]]
[[Category:Ballet impresarios]]
[[Category:Ballet impresarios]]
[[Category:People from Marylebone]]

Latest revision as of 13:01, 10 December 2024

Lilian Baylis
Baylis in 1924
Born
Lilian Mary Baylis

(1874-05-09)9 May 1874
Marylebone, London, England
Died25 November 1937(1937-11-25) (aged 63)
Lambeth, London
Resting placeEast London Cemetery
Occupation(s)Theatrical producer and manager
Known forRevived Old Vic and Sadler's Wells Theatre. Founded forerunners of English National Opera, National Theatre and Royal Ballet.

Lilian Mary Baylis[1] (9 May 1874 – 25 November 1937) was an English theatrical producer and manager. She managed the Old Vic and Sadler's Wells theatres in London and ran an opera company, which became the English National Opera (ENO); a theatre company, which evolved into the English National Theatre; and a ballet company, which eventually became The Royal Ballet.

Early life

[edit]

Lilian Baylis was born in Marylebone, London, England [2] to parents Newton Baylis and Elizabeth (Liebe) née Cons (or Konss). She was the eldest of six children, and grew up surrounded by music and performance. Her mother was a successful singer and pianist, and Baylis's education was grounded in the arts; she began performing and teaching music at an early age. She attended St. Augustine's school, Kilburn. She also took violin lessons at the Royal Academy of Music with leading professionals, such as John Tiplady Carrodus, who was principal first violin at Covent Garden.[3][4]

South Africa

[edit]

In 1891, the Baylis family emigrated to South Africa when their performance troupe "The Gypsy Revellers" were offered a long-term contract to tour and perform there. As a teenager Lilian played violin and mandolin in "The Gypsy Revellers". She also taught her mother's music and dance students. She earned a good living and played in many concerts. When Baylis fell ill and had to have an operation on her kidneys, her family became concerned for her heath, especially as the country was in turmoil after the Jameson Raid. Baylis returned to London to recuperate and her aunt Emma Cons offered her a job at The Royal Victoria Hall and Coffee Tavern (known as "The Old Vic"), which she managed. Having spent most of her adolescent years in South Africa, Baylis left behind her family, many close friends, and a fiancé.

After arriving in London she met 12-year-old Gordon Holmes, and the two would become close lifelong friends – Baylis had been romantically involved with Holmes' maternal uncle in Johannesburg, and used to quip to Holmes that, "you know, my dear, if I had married your Uncle Jack, you would be my niece!"[5]

The Old Vic

[edit]

Baylis assisted Emma Cons in running the Old Vic, and gradually took on more management duties running concerts, film shows, lecture programmes and variety shows. Following Cons' death in 1912, Baylis became lessee and obtained a theatre licence for the Royal Victoria Hall to begin staging theatrical performances.

Initially Baylis was interested in opera, which she preferred to every other art form. She joined forces with Charles Corri to arrange and perform operas at the Old Vic with a small orchestra and limited resources. Plays were introduced to the Old Vic by Rosina Filippi, husband and wife team, Matheson Lang and Hutin Britton, and Sir Philip Ben Greet. The plays of William Shakespeare were often performed and Baylis claimed that the Old Vic had become the London 'Home of Shakespeare'. In the run up to the 300th anniversary of the publication of the First Folio Baylis produced all of Shakespeare's plays, even the ones she knew would be unlikely to generate many ticket sales. The tradition of doing Shakespeare at the Old Vic continued for many years and performers such as John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier were willing to work for low wages if they could play the great Shakespearean roles.[6][7][8][9][10]

Sadler's Wells

[edit]
The Old Vic Theatre from the corner of Baylis Road.

In 1925, Baylis began a campaign to re-open the derelict Sadler's Wells Theatre, something she finally achieved with a gala opening on 6 January 1931 of a production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night starring John Gielgud as Malvolio and Ralph Richardson as Toby Belch. Acquiring Sadler's Wells enabled Baylis to develop her plans for a dance company, something she had wished to do since 1926 when she engaged Ninette de Valois to improve the standard of dancing in operas and plays at the Old Vic.[11] For several years the opera, drama and ballet companies known as the "Vic-Wells" companies, moved between the Old Vic and Sadler's Wells but by 1935 the ballet company, which now included Margot Fonteyn and Robert Helpmann, with guest appearances from Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, tended to perform at Sadler's Wells. Musical direction was by Constant Lambert, and choreography for new works by de Valois and rising star Frederick Ashton. The ballet company's descendants today are the Royal Ballet and the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Today the Sadler's Wells Theatre is primarily a dance venue.[12]

Growing stars

[edit]

The Vic-Wells nurtured the careers of stars such as Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft, Sybil Thorndike, Edith Evans, Alec Guinness, Marius Goring, Michael Redgrave, Maurice Evans and Ralph Richardson, and became famous for stylish productions under the artistic directorship of Tyrone Guthrie during the 1930s. In 1937 Guthrie's production of Hamlet played at Elsinore/Helsingør in Denmark, with Olivier in the title role, and Vivien Leigh as Ophelia. Gielgud's first performance as Hamlet in 1930 became the first Old Vic production to be transferred to the West End for a run. Baylis scored a casting coup in 1933 by featuring Charles Laughton at the theatre after he had become a worldwide name in the film The Private Life of Henry VIII. To exploit the audiences' interest in the film, she cast Laughton as Shakespeare's Henry VIII.

Recognition and death

[edit]

Baylis was awarded an honorary master's degree from Oxford University for her work in the theatre in 1924, only the fourth such honour to be given to a woman by the university. In 1929 she was appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) for service to the nation. In 1934 Birmingham University awarded Baylis an honorary doctorate. A Greater London Council blue plaque commemorates Baylis at her home, 27 Stockwell Park Road in Stockwell, South London.[13] and the Lilian Baylis Technology School, Kennington is so named in her honour.

After a long illness, Baylis died of a heart attack on 25 November 1937, aged 63 in Lambeth, South London,[14] the night before the Old Vic was to open a production of Macbeth starring Laurence Olivier and Judith Anderson.[15] She was cremated at East London Cemetery and Crematorium, where her ashes were scattered at her request. There is a memorial plaque for Lilian Baylis at the Actors' Church, St Paul's, in the heart of Covent Garden.

Influence

[edit]

In 1985, English National Opera created an education and outreach department, naming it the Baylis Programme called in Lilian Baylis's honour. The Baylis Programme (later called ENO Baylis and recently renamed to ENO Engage[16]) was led for ten years by its founder directors Rebecca Meitlis and David Sulkin. Subsequent directors included Steve Moffitt,[17] Alice King-Farlow and Jenny Mollica now CEO of ENO. In the Lilian Baylis tradition the work of ENO Engage focusses on those who are new to opera. It involves around 12,000 people every year in a wide range of projects, events, courses and performances, with a goal of developing creative responses to opera and music theatre; making new work with communities and exploring individual creativity as a means of providing access to ENO's productions; and encouraging learning and development through participation of artists and collaboration of resources.

The current Sadler's Wells Theatre contains a 200-seat theatre named after her, and the National Theatre has a Lilian Baylis Terrace. The upper circle in the Old Vic is called the Lilian Baylis Circle. A building in West Hampstead used by ENO for rehearsals and production wardrobe is called Lilian Baylis House. In Vauxhall the Lillian Baylis Secondary School is also named in her honour. There is a Lilian Baylis Rose, and the Royal Victoria Hall Foundation administers the annual Lilian Baylis Awards for promising acting students. A street alongside Waterloo station is named Baylis Road.

References

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  1. ^ Schafer, Elizabeth (2006), "Lilian Baylis: A Biography". University of Hertfordshire Press, Hatfield. ISBN 1-902806-63-8
  2. ^ "Search Results for England & Wales Births 1837-2006". www.findmypast.co.uk.
  3. ^ Thorndike, Sybil and Russel (1938). Lilian Baylis. London: Chapman and Hall.
  4. ^ Gilbert, Susie (3 March 2011). Opera for Everybody: The Story of English National Opera. London: Faber & Faber. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-571-26865-8. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  5. ^ Schafer, Elizabeth (2006). Lilian Baylis: A Biography. Univ of Hertfordshire Press. ISBN 978-1-902806-64-8.
  6. ^ Findlater, Richard (1975), Lilian Baylis: The Lady of the Old Vic. London: Allen Lane.
  7. ^ Hamilton, Cecily and Baylis, Lilian (1926), The Old Vic. London: Cape.
  8. ^ Schafer, Elizabeth (2006). Lilian Baylis: A Biography. Hatfield: University of Hertfordshire.
  9. ^ Coleman, Terry (2014). The Old Vic: The Story of a Great Theatre from Kean to Olivier to Spacey. London: Faber & Faber Limited.
  10. ^ "The Old Vic". About Us - The Old Vic. Arts Council England. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  11. ^ "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/71607. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  12. ^ "Sadler's Wells Theatre - London's Dance House". Sadlerswells.com. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  13. ^ "BAYLIS, LILIAN (1874–1937)". English Heritage. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  14. ^ "Search Results for England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007". www.findmypast.co.uk.
  15. ^ Tanitch, Robert, "Olivier". Abbeville Press
  16. ^ ENO Engage. "ENO Engage".
  17. ^ [1] [dead link]
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