Edith Craig Papers, ca. 1884-1939, Bulk 1932-1939

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Summary

Creators:
Craig, Edith, 1869-1947
Abstract:
Edith Craig (1869-1947) was a member of the Lyceum Theatre Company for many years, working with her mother and brother, Edward Gordon Craig, under the direction of Henry Irving. She designed and made costumes for many London productions, but in later years became engaged in stage management and play productions. In 1929, she converted an Elizabethan barn adjacent to her mother's house at Small Hythe, Tenterden, Kent into a memorial theatre and directed yearly Shakespearean drama until 1939. The collection consists of 260 letters, most dated between 1932-39, during Craig's organization of the festivals and programs for the Barn Theatre, Small Hythe, Tenterden, Kent.
Extent:
2 boxes (1 linear ft.)
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of 260 letters, most dated between 1932-39, during Craig's organization of the festivals and programs for the Barn Theatre, Small Hythe, Tenterden, Kent. Correspondents include: Dame Peggy Ashcroft, Dame Edith Evans, Elsa Lanchester, Sir Michael Redgrave, and Vita Sackville-West. Also contains Craig's guestbook, a sketchbook, prompt books of Upton Sinclair's Singing Jailbirds, George Bernard Shaw's Back to Methuselah, and a presentation copy of Annancy stories by Pamela Colman Smith. Also includes a book written for Craig, The Golden Book With Prose, Verse and Quotations.

Biographical / historical:

Edith Craig was born in Hertfordshire, England, December 9, 1869; the daughter of actress Ellen Terry, she made her first stage appearance at the Court Theater in 1878 during a run of Olivia; was a member of Lyceum Theatre Company for many years, working with her mother and brother, Edward Gordon Craig, under the direction of Henry Irving; at one time designed and made costumes for many London productions, but in later years became engaged in stage management and play productions; as stage director of the Pioneer Players from 1911-21, she produced over 150 plays; in 1929, she converted an Elizabethan barn adjacent to her mother's house at Small Hythe, Tenterden, Kent into a memorial theatre and directed yearly Shakespearean drama until 1939; formed the Barn Theatre Society, which attracted leading actors from the London stage; died in 1947.

Biographical Narrative

Edith Craig was born in Hertsfordshire, England, the daughter of the famous Shakespearean actress, Ellen Terry, and the sister of Edward Gordon Craig. For many years, she was a member of the Lyceum Theatre Company under the direction of Henry Irving, working with her mother and brother. In later years she became involved with stage management and production in the Little Theatre movement, founding and directing the Pioneer Players in over 150 productions between 1911 and 1921. After Ellen Terry's death in 1928, Edith Craig converted the Elizabethan barn adjacent to Ellen Terry's house at Small Hythe into a memorial theatre where she directed yearly performances of Shakespearean drama in commeration of the anniversary of Ellen Terry's death. In addition, she formed the Barn Theatre Society, producing plays utilizing the talents of many of London's most prestigious stage performers. The bulk of the correspondence in the collection is dated from 1932 to 1939 and relates to this period of Edith Craig's organization of the festivals and programs for the Barn Theatre, Small Hythe, Kent.

Charlotte Payne

May 1976

Acquisition information:
Hamill and Barker, purchase, 1962. Stevens and Brown, purchase, 1968.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Correspondence (Box 1).
  2. Manuscript materials, prompt books, sketchbook, presentation copy (Box 2).

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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