Contract
1927 (typed), ca.1930 (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This contract, kept by Norah Blaney, refers to engagements with Gwen Farrar at the Empire Holborn and the London Palladium in June and July 1930.
Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar first worked together at the end of the First World War, entertaining the troops in Belgium and France with Lena Ashwell's concert party, with Norah Blaney as the pianist and Gwen Farrar as a cellist, performing with a constant flow of repartee. They appeared in leading London and variety theatres between about 1921 to 1924, as well as in the 1921 cabaret show Pot Luck! with Jack Hulbert and Beatrice Lillie; and the 1923 André Charlot revues Rats starring Alfred Lester and Gertrude Lawrence, and Yes! at the Vaudeville Theatre, Strand, London. In May 1924 they opened in another Charlot revue, The Punch Bowl, at the Duke of York's Theatre, London, with Alfred Lester, Sonnie Hale and Hermione Baddeley. They worked independently in the late 1920s but came together in 1930 for this production. They made a farewell appearance at the London Palladium in February 1932 but worked together again briefly to entertain the troops during the Second World War, before the death of Gwen Farrar in 1944.
Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar first worked together at the end of the First World War, entertaining the troops in Belgium and France with Lena Ashwell's concert party, with Norah Blaney as the pianist and Gwen Farrar as a cellist, performing with a constant flow of repartee. They appeared in leading London and variety theatres between about 1921 to 1924, as well as in the 1921 cabaret show Pot Luck! with Jack Hulbert and Beatrice Lillie; and the 1923 André Charlot revues Rats starring Alfred Lester and Gertrude Lawrence, and Yes! at the Vaudeville Theatre, Strand, London. In May 1924 they opened in another Charlot revue, The Punch Bowl, at the Duke of York's Theatre, London, with Alfred Lester, Sonnie Hale and Hermione Baddeley. They worked independently in the late 1920s but came together in 1930 for this production. They made a farewell appearance at the London Palladium in February 1932 but worked together again briefly to entertain the troops during the Second World War, before the death of Gwen Farrar in 1944.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Printed contract with typed additions |
| Brief description | Contract between Russell Janney Productions Ltd. and Norah Blaney, engaging her to play Huguette du Hamel in The Vagabond King. Dated 21 March 1927. Printed contract with typed and ms additions. |
| Physical description | Agreement on cream paper (torn) dated recto 21 March 1927 between Russell Janney Productions Ltd., and Norah Blaney of 160B Earl's Court Road, SW5, engaging her to play the part of Huguette du Hamel in The Vagabond King commencing with the rehearsal period on 7 March 1927 and being paid £75 a week during the run. Signed verso Norah Blaney and Russell Janney, Managing Director. The obverse is printed with a schedule or regulations applicable to the contract, including salary information, illness and costumes stating that all character or special costumes 'shall be found by the Manager' and that no male artist shall be required to provide any costume 'which cannot be used by him in his private capacity.' |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by the British Theatre Association |
| Object history | This came to the museum as part of a small collection compiled by Norah Blaney, mainly consisting of cuttings and photographs relating to the careers of Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar. |
| Association | |
| Summary | This contract, kept by Norah Blaney, refers to engagements with Gwen Farrar at the Empire Holborn and the London Palladium in June and July 1930. Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar first worked together at the end of the First World War, entertaining the troops in Belgium and France with Lena Ashwell's concert party, with Norah Blaney as the pianist and Gwen Farrar as a cellist, performing with a constant flow of repartee. They appeared in leading London and variety theatres between about 1921 to 1924, as well as in the 1921 cabaret show Pot Luck! with Jack Hulbert and Beatrice Lillie; and the 1923 André Charlot revues Rats starring Alfred Lester and Gertrude Lawrence, and Yes! at the Vaudeville Theatre, Strand, London. In May 1924 they opened in another Charlot revue, The Punch Bowl, at the Duke of York's Theatre, London, with Alfred Lester, Sonnie Hale and Hermione Baddeley. They worked independently in the late 1920s but came together in 1930 for this production. They made a farewell appearance at the London Palladium in February 1932 but worked together again briefly to entertain the troops during the Second World War, before the death of Gwen Farrar in 1944. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.5035-2009 |
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| Record created | January 6, 2010 |
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