Gladys Edith Mabel Calthrop (néeTreeby; 29 March 1894 – 7 March 1980) was an artist and leading British stage designer. She is best known as the set and costume designer for many of Noël Coward's plays and musicals.[1]
Gladys Edith Mabel Treeby was born in Ashton, Devon, the daughter of Mabel and Frederick Theophilus Treeby. She was educated at Grassendale School, Southbourne, West Sussex. Her parents sent her to a finishing school in Paris, and she returned married to Army captain Everard E. Calthrop, from Norfolk. The couple had a son, Hugo, whose care Calthrop entrusted mostly to her mother. He was later killed in the Burma Campaign. She was soon separated from her husband (she had lesbian relationships thereafter) and studied art at Slade School of Fine Art.[1]
Careeredit
Calthrop was introduced to Noël Coward by Mrs. Astley Cooper while on holiday in Italy in 1921.[2][3] She soon became a close friend of Coward's, and she commenced her theatre career in November 1924 with her design for his The Vortex, staged at the Everyman Theatre in Hampstead.[4] As she later recalled: "It was the first play I had ever designed so I was terribly excited, though there was nowhere to paint the sets except outside the theatre in Hampstead High Street, and the costumes all had to be made in a kind of basement there."[5]
In 1929, Calthrop had an affair with Mercedes de Acosta, who wrote an unpublished book of 20 poems for her, possibly after they broke up, with a dedication: “To Gladys, take these frail poems, for the sake of many things. Your eyes – these years – a dream, and some golden moments fleet with wings.” The book was rediscovered in 2024.[7]
Calthrop continued to work as a designer in Britain until 1964.[8] She also designed some films, including four Coward adaptations, in the 1940s.[6][9] In 1940 she published her first and only novel, Paper Pattern.[3]
During World War II, she served in the Mechanised Transport Corps.[3] She also illustrated the Noël Coward Song Book (1953). She died at the age of 85.[3]
Archivesedit
Calthrop's papers, including her letters, are held at the Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham.[10] The V&A holds 195 of her designs.[11]
^ abcd"Mrs Gladys Calthrop – Artist and stage designer", The Times, 11 March 1980, p. 14
^Who's Who in the Theatre, 14th edition, Pitman (1967)
^Morley, Sheridan. A Talent to Amuse: a Biography of Noël Coward, p. 77, Heinemann (1969, revised 1974) ISBN0-434-47895-4
^ ab"Matt & Andrej Koymasky - Famous GLTB - Gladys Calthrop". andrejkoymasky.com. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
^Barnett, David (2024-03-02). "Mercedes de Acosta: The poet who had affairs with the 20th century's most famous women". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
^"Gladys Calthrop". University of Calgary libraries, accessed 29 May 2011
^Billington, Michael (2020-12-28). "Beyond the silk pyjamas: the style of Noël Coward". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
"Gladys Calthrop". Images at the National Portrait Gallery
Image of Calthrop and Coward, 1924
Painting by Calthrop
May 01, 2024
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Gladys Edith Mabel Calthrop nee Treeby 29 March 1894 7 March 1980 was an artist and leading British stage designer She is best known as the set and costume designer for many of Noel Coward s plays and musicals 1 Calthrop s set and costumes for Conversation Piece 1934 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Archives 4 Stage works 5 Filmography 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editGladys Edith Mabel Treeby was born in Ashton Devon the daughter of Mabel and Frederick Theophilus Treeby She was educated at Grassendale School Southbourne West Sussex Her parents sent her to a finishing school in Paris and she returned married to Army captain Everard E Calthrop from Norfolk The couple had a son Hugo whose care Calthrop entrusted mostly to her mother He was later killed in the Burma Campaign She was soon separated from her husband she had lesbian relationships thereafter and studied art at Slade School of Fine Art 1 Career editCalthrop was introduced to Noel Coward by Mrs Astley Cooper while on holiday in Italy in 1921 2 3 She soon became a close friend of Coward s and she commenced her theatre career in November 1924 with her design for his The Vortex staged at the Everyman Theatre in Hampstead 4 As she later recalled It was the first play I had ever designed so I was terribly excited though there was nowhere to paint the sets except outside the theatre in Hampstead High Street and the costumes all had to be made in a kind of basement there 5 She stayed in New York after travelling there for the Broadway production of The Vortex becoming Artistic Director for Eva la Galliene s Civic Repertory Theatre 6 for whom she directed John Gabriel Borkman on Broadway in 1926 Her designs for Broadway included The Cradle Song 1927 This Year of Grace 1928 Bitter Sweet 1929 Autumn Crocus 1932 Private Lives 1931 Design for Living 1933 Conversation Piece 1934 Point Valaine 1935 Tonight at 8 30 1936 Excursion 1937 Dear Octopus 1939 and Set to Music 1939 In 1929 Calthrop had an affair with Mercedes de Acosta who wrote an unpublished book of 20 poems for her possibly after they broke up with a dedication To Gladys take these frail poems for the sake of many things Your eyes these years a dream and some golden moments fleet with wings The book was rediscovered in 2024 7 Calthrop continued to work as a designer in Britain until 1964 8 She also designed some films including four Coward adaptations in the 1940s 6 9 In 1940 she published her first and only novel Paper Pattern 3 During World War II she served in the Mechanised Transport Corps 3 She also illustrated the Noel Coward Song Book 1953 She died at the age of 85 3 Archives editCalthrop s papers including her letters are held at the Cadbury Research Library University of Birmingham 10 The V amp A holds 195 of her designs 11 The National Portrait Gallery in London holds 16 photographs of Calthrop in its collections 12 and the University of Bristol Theatre Collection holds a portrait of her by Clemence Dane 13 and a bust by Fiore de Henriquez 14 Stage works editThe dates given are for the West End productions unless otherwise specified The Vortex Everyman Hampstead Dick Whittington 1924 Spring Cleaning On With the Dance Easy Virtue Hay Fever 1925 The Queen Was in the Parlour 1926 Home Chat Sirocco The Cradle Song Broadway 1927 This Year of Grace revue Come With Me 1928 The Cradle Song The Master Builder Bitter Sweet Broadway The Black Ace 1929 Private Lives Autumn Crocus Bitter Sweet Cavalcade 1931 Words and Music 1932 Three Sisters Design for Living Broadway 1933 Conversation Piece 1934 Point Valaine Broadway 1935 Mademoiselle Tonight at 8 30 Broadway 1936 Excursion Broadway You Can t Take it With You 1937 Operette Jack and the Beanstalk 1938 All Clear Dear Octopus Broadway Set to Music Broadway 1939 Cousin Muriel 1940 No Time for Comedy Blithe Spirit 1941 Present Laughter This Happy Breed 1943 The Gay Pavilion 1945 Pacific 1860 1946 Present Laughter Peace In Our Time 1947 Ace of Clubs 1950 The Vortex 1952 The Edwardians 1959 The Brontes recital 1964 15 Filmography editIn Which We Serve 1942 This Happy Breed 1944 Brief Encounter Blithe Spirit 1945 The Fighting O Flynn 1949 The Astonished Heart 1950 References edit a b Mrs Gladys Calthrop Artist and Stage Designer The Times 11 March 1980 Hoare Philip Noel Coward A Biography Sinclair Stevenson 1995 ISBN 1 85619 265 2 pp 85 86 a b c d Mrs Gladys Calthrop Artist and stage designer The Times 11 March 1980 p 14 Who s Who in the Theatre 14th edition Pitman 1967 Morley Sheridan A Talent to Amuse a Biography of Noel Coward p 77 Heinemann 1969 revised 1974 ISBN 0 434 47895 4 a b Matt amp Andrej Koymasky Famous GLTB Gladys Calthrop andrejkoymasky com Retrieved 2024 03 08 Barnett David 2024 03 02 Mercedes de Acosta The poet who had affairs with the 20th century s most famous women The Observer ISSN 0029 7712 Retrieved 2024 03 08 Gladys Calthrop University of Calgary libraries accessed 29 May 2011 Billington Michael 2020 12 28 Beyond the silk pyjamas the style of Noel Coward The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 2024 03 08 UoB Calmview5 Search results calmview bham ac uk Retrieved 2021 03 18 Museum Victoria and Albert Search Results V amp A Explore the Collections Victoria and Albert Museum Retrieved 2024 03 08 Gladys Calthrop National Portrait Gallery www npg org uk Retrieved 2024 03 08 Gladys Calthrop 1894 1980 Art UK artuk org Retrieved 2024 03 08 Gladys Calthrop 1894 1980 Art UK artuk org Retrieved 2024 03 08 The Brontes is by Margaret Webster External links editGladys Calthrop at the Internet Broadway Database Gladys Calthrop at IMDb Gladys Calthrop Images at the National Portrait Gallery Image of Calthrop and Coward 1924 Painting by Calthrop Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gladys Calthrop amp oldid 1220779444, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
