Nancy Price (3 February 1880 – 31 March 1970) was an English actress on stage and screen, author, animal welfare activist 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 National Theatre.
Personal life Christened Lilian Nancy Bache Price in Kinver, Staffordshire, England, in 1880, Nancy was the daughter of William Henry Price (a retired farmer) 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.Margot and Nancy . findonvillage.com
She wrote many books, including her autobiography, Into an Hour-Glass (1953). At one time she managed the "Little Theatre" in the Adelphi, off the Strand.
Findon remained her home until her death in 1970.
Animal welfare
Price was an advocate of animal welfare and co-founded the Council of Justice to Animals in 1911. Price became a vegetarian in the 1920s after an experience at a walking tour in the fens. She became lost in a fog and credited the local sheep as saving her life by offering her protection and keeping her warm. Price was president of the Sussex Vegetarian Society and lectured on vegetarianism in Worthing. In 1951, at a vegetarian public meeting she argued that more people would turn to vegetarianism if they visited a slaughterhouse. She suggested that vegetarian restaurants should be publicized more.
In 1937, Price denounced the use of gin traps on rabbits as "barbarous cruelty" and a "savage instrument of torture". Price authored a book on dogs, Tails and Tales, published in 1945. The anthology is made up of facts about dogs taken from many sources. In 1949, she funded the creation of a "Warrior Birds" memorial stone at Beach House Park to commemorate war pigeons who gave their lives in service during World War II.
Price was concerned about rabbits suffering from myxomatosis. In 1954, Price supported a petition urging the Government to pass a new law making delibrate spreading of myxomatosis an offence. The petition gained support from the RSPCA and animal lovers in Worthing. In 1963, Price campaigned against the careless ringing of young birds by ornithologists. She commented that the metal often damaged the legs of small birds and suggested legislation to prevent unqualified people from bird ringing. She was an opponent of blood sports and attended meetings of the League Against Cruel Sports Worthing branch.
Price was an anti-vivisectionist. She was a speaker at the annual meeting of the National Anti-Vivisection Society in 1939. She was president of the Richmond and Twickenham branch of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) in 1944. Price was president of the Storrington and district branch of the BUAV in 1954. She stated that "if people could see inside a vivisector's chamber and see what was going on they would be horrified".
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 (1904), 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.The Fortune Theatre, Russell Street, London, WC2. arthurlloyd.co.uk 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 the play she co-wrote with Eden Phillpotts, The Orange Orchard, at the New Lindsey Theatre.
Theatre performances + Theatre Season Play Title Theatre Role Notes1900 Pericles Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Diana1900 Macbeth Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Hecate1902 Ulysses Her Majesty's Theatre, London Calypso Written by Stephen Phillips, produced by Beerbohm Tree 1902–03 The Eternal City His Majesty's Theatre, London Princess Bellini Dramatisation of Hall Caine's novel of the same name1903 Em'ly Adelphi Theatre, London Rosa Dartle1903 A Snug Little Kingdom Royalty Theatre, London Sister Hope1903 The Two Mr. Wetherbys Imperial Theatre, London Constantia Stage Society production of St. John Hankin's first play1903–04 Letty Duke of York's Theatre, London Hilda Gunning1908 The Gay Lord Quex Garrick Theatre, London Sophy Fullgarney 1908–09 A Modern Aspasia The Aldwych Theatre, London Muriel Meredith Play by Hamilton Fyfe, cast included her husband Charles Maude 1909 One of the Best The Aldwych Theatre, London Esther Coventry Play by Seymour Hicks 1909 The Fountain The Aldwych Theatre, London Dinah Kippin Play by George Calderon 1909–10 The Whip Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London Mrs. D'Aquila1911 The Vision of Delight His Majesty's Theatre, LondonOne of The Twelve HoursPlay written by Ben Jonson Coronation Gala performance 1911 The First Actress The Kingsway Theatre, London Margaret Hughes1911 The Merchant of Venice Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Portia1915–16 Richard III His Majesty's Theatre, London1923 Outward Bound Everyman Theatre, London Mrs. Cliveden-Banks Play by Sutton Vane1923–24 Ambush Garrick Theatre, London Harriett Nichols1925 Enrico IV (Henry IV) Everyman Theatre, London Marchioness Matilda SpinaPlay written by Luigi Pirandello1925 And That's the Truth (If You Think it is) Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, London Signora Frola Based on the play Così è (se vi pare) by Luigi Pirandello1925 Gloriana Little Theatre in the Adelphi, London Princess Elizabeth Appearing alongside John Gielgud1929–30 Belle: or What's the Bother? Prince Of Wales Theatre, London Annie Collins Later renamed as Down Our Street1931 The Silver Box Fortune Theatre, London Mrs. JonesPlay written by John Galsworthy1931 Salome Savoy Theatre, London Herodias First public performance in England of Oscar Wilde's previously banned play1932 Trifles Duchess Theatre, London Mrs. Hale Play written by Susan Glaspell1932 Alison's House Little Theatre in the Adelphi, London Miss Agatha Pulitzer Prize winning play written by Susan Glaspell1934 Nurse Cavell Vaudeville Theatre, London Edith Cavell Play written by C. E. Bechhofer Roberts and C.S. Forester1934The Life That I Gave HimPeople's National TheatreDon'Anna LunaPlay written by Luigi Pirandello (Italian source: La vita che ti diedi, 1923)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 [The Times 18 March 1939]1941–42 Whiteoaks Theatre Royal, Bath and Comedy Theatre, London 1943 Vintage Wine Grand Theatre, Blackpool Madame Popinot1943–44 John Gabriel Borkman The Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool1944–45 Lisa The Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool1950 The Orange Orchard New Lindsey Theatre, London Martha 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 + Film Year Title Role Notes1916 The Lyons Mail Janette1921 Belphegor the Mountebank Countess de Blangy1923Bonnie Prince Charlie Lady Kingsburgh Appearing alongside Ivor Novello1923 The Woman Who Obeyed Governess1923 Comin' Thro' the Rye Mrs. Titmouse1923Love, Life and LaughterBalloon blowers wife's friend1927 Huntingtower Mrs. MoranBased on novel by John Buchan1928 His House in Order Lady RidgeleySilent film which is believed lost.1928 The Price of Divorcereleased as Such is the Law1929 The American Prisoner Lovey Lee1930 The Loves of Robert Burns Posie Nancy1930 Such Is the Law Aunt1931 The Speckled Band Mrs. StauntonEarly Sherlock Holmes film1932 Down Our Street Annie Collins1934 The Crucifix Miss Bryany1939 The Stars Look Down Martha Fenwick Adapted by A.J.Cronin1940 Dead Man's Shoes Madame PelletierRoddy McDowell in an early role1942 Secret Mission Violette, housekeeper1944 Madonna of the Seven Moons Mama BarucciProduced by Gainsborough Pictures1945 I Know Where I'm Going! Mrs. CrozierPetula Clark in an early role1945 I Live in Grosvenor Square Mrs. Wilson1946 Carnival Mrs. Trewhella1947 Master of Bankdam Lydia CrowtherNicholas Parsons in a minor role1948 The Three Weird Sisters Gertrude Morgan-VaughanScreenplay co-written by Dylan Thomas1950 The Naked Heart Theresa SuprenantFilm also known as Maria Chapdelaine1952 Mandy Jane EllisDistributed by Ealing Studios
Television filmography + Television Year Title Role Notes1938 Will Shakespeare Queen Elizabeth BBC production1948 Nurse Cavell Edith Cavell BBC production1949 Down Our Street Annie Collins BBC production1950 The Silver Box Mrs.Jones BBC production based on a play by John Galsworthy1950 Thérèse Raquin Madame Raquin BBC production based on novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola1950 The Orange Orchard Martha Blanchard BBC production1951 Whiteoaks Grandma Adeline Whiteoak BBC production
Radio broadcasting +YearTitleRoleNotes1951The Life That I Gave HimDonn'Anna LunaBBC production. From the play La vita che ti diedi, 1923, by Luigi Pirandello. Translated by Clifford Bax. Adapted for broadcasting and produced by Mary Hope Allen
Bibliography
Plays Whiteoaks: A Play (With Mazo de la Roche, Macmillan, 1936) The Orange Orchard (With Eden Phillpotts, London: Samuel French, 1950)
Poetry Hurdy-Gurdy (London : Frederick Muller, 1944)
Novels Ta-mera (London : Hutchinson & Co., 1950)
Essays, memoirs and diaries Behind the Night-Light: the by-world of a child of three. Described by Joan Maude and faithfully recorded by Nancy Price (London : John Murray, 1912)