Viva Birkett (14 February 1887 – 27 June 1934) was a British stage actress active on both sides of the Atlantic over the early decades of the twentieth century.
Valentine (originally recorded as Valentina) Viola Birkett was born on Saint Valentine's Day, 1887 at the historic coastal town of Exeter in the south west of England.[1][2] She was the daughter of William Henry and Myra Martha Birkett, both natives of Exeter, where her father worked as a woollen merchant.[3] Viva studied acting under the American thespian Kate Bateman (1842–1917)[4] and made her London stage debut on 28 June 1906 as a guest performer at the Lyric Theatre in a revival of Monsieur Beaucaire and her New York City debut at the Hudson Theatre on 30 August of that same year playing Helen Plugenet in Hypocrites.[5] For the remainder of her career she would continue to perform in London and New York and tour with companies headed by George Arliss, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, and Henry Jowett. Her last Broadway appearance was in June 1930 playing the Princess of San Luca in Death Takes a Holiday.[6]
Viva Birkett died from cancer on 27 June 1934, less than a month after leaving New York to return to her home on Seymour Road in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. She was survived by her husband and children.[10]
1929–30: Death Takes a Holiday (Princess of San Luca) by Alberto Casella; adapted by Walter Ferris performed at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York[11][12]
Sourcesedit
^Who Was Who in the Theatre, 1912-1976: a Biographical Dictionary ...: Volume 1
viva, birkett, february, 1887, june, 1934, british, stage, actress, active, both, sides, atlantic, over, early, decades, twentieth, century, nypl, digital, gallerybornvalentine, viola, birkett, 1887, february, 1887exeter, englanddied27, june, 1934, 1934, aged,. Viva Birkett 14 February 1887 27 June 1934 was a British stage actress active on both sides of the Atlantic over the early decades of the twentieth century Viva BirkettNYPL Digital GalleryBornValentine Viola Birkett 1887 02 14 14 February 1887Exeter EnglandDied27 June 1934 1934 06 27 aged 47 London EnglandOccupationStage actressYears active1906 1930SpousePhilip Merivale m 1912 wbr Children4 including John Merivale Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Marriage and family 3 Death 4 Selected performances 5 Sources 6 External linksEarly life and career editValentine originally recorded as Valentina Viola Birkett was born on Saint Valentine s Day 1887 at the historic coastal town of Exeter in the south west of England 1 2 She was the daughter of William Henry and Myra Martha Birkett both natives of Exeter where her father worked as a woollen merchant 3 Viva studied acting under the American thespian Kate Bateman 1842 1917 4 and made her London stage debut on 28 June 1906 as a guest performer at the Lyric Theatre in a revival of Monsieur Beaucaire and her New York City debut at the Hudson Theatre on 30 August of that same year playing Helen Plugenet in Hypocrites 5 For the remainder of her career she would continue to perform in London and New York and tour with companies headed by George Arliss Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and Henry Jowett Her last Broadway appearance was in June 1930 playing the Princess of San Luca in Death Takes a Holiday 6 Marriage and family editOn 23 July 1912 Viva married British actor Philip Merivale at St Marylebone Parish Church in London The couple became the parents of two daughters and two sons Rosamund Valentine John and Philip 7 8 9 Death editViva Birkett died from cancer on 27 June 1934 less than a month after leaving New York to return to her home on Seymour Road in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames She was survived by her husband and children 10 Selected performances edit1906 Monsieur Beaucaire adapted from the book by Booth Tarkington performed at the Lyric Theatre London 1906 07 Hypocrites by Henry Arthur Jones performed at the Hudson Theatre New York 1911 Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare performed at His Majesty s Theatre London 1911 The Merry Wives of Windsor Anne Page by William Shakespeare performed at His Majesty s Theatre London 1911 Macbeth Lady Macduff by William Shakespeare performed at His Majesty s Theatre London 1911 12 Peter Pan Mrs Darling by J M Barrie performed at the Duke of York s Theatre London 1913 Trust the People Lady Violet Ainslie by Stanley Houghton performed at the Garrick Theatre London 1914 Trilby Trilby O Farrell by George du Maurier 1914 Evidence by J duRocher MacPherson performed at the Lyric Theatre New York 1915 As You Like It Rosalind by William Shakespeare performed at the Boston Opera House Boston Massachusetts 1916 Caroline by W Somerset Maugham performed at the Empire Theatre New York 1919 The Mollusc Mrs Baker by Hubert Henry Davies performed with the George Arliss Company 1922 A Prince of Lovers Lady Jersey by Alice Ramsey 1929 30 Death Takes a Holiday Princess of San Luca by Alberto Casella adapted by Walter Ferris performed at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre New York 11 12 Sources edit Who Was Who in the Theatre 1912 1976 a Biographical Dictionary Volume 1 England amp Wales Free BMD Birth Index 1837 1915 1881 1891 amp 1901 English census records Who Was Who in the Theatre 1912 1976 a Biographical Dictionary Volume 1 The New York Times 7 July 1934 The New York Times 7 July 1934 London England Marriages and Banns 1754 1921 Passenger Manifest SS Philadelphia 4 August 1906 The Play pictorial Volume 20 The New York Times 7 July 1934 IMDb IBDbExternal links editNYPL Digital Gallery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Viva Birkett amp oldid 1192170211, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
