WOMEN IN SCENIC ART, part 3
As posted yesterday, this is the next line in the 1927 article that discussed women in scenic art:
“The work of Lillian Gaestner in the New Ziegfield and Gladys Calthrop in the Eva LaGallienne Company may, as a matter of opinion, be as unlike each other as you please, but it is real work.”
I delved into the career and work of Gladys Calthrop (1894-1980).
Gladys was a set and costume designer for theatre in both London and New York.
She was born Gladys Treeby in Ashton, Devon, the daughter of Frederisk Theophilus Treeby and his wife Mabel. Educated at Grassendale School, Southbourne, West Sussex, her parents sent her to finishing school in Paris where she met Army Captain Everard E. Calthrop from Norfolk. Treeby married Calthrop and had a son, Hugo, whose care was entrusted mostly to her mother. Hugo was later killed during fighting in Burma. Soon after Hugo’s death, she separated from her husband.
Gladys met Noel Coward in Italy during 1921 and they subsequently became friends. She commenced her theatre career in 1924, working for Coward on “The Vortex.” Staged at the Everyman Theatre in Hampstead, she designed both sets and costumes, later recalling, “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.” This became the first of many collaborative projects with Coward.
She stayed in New York after “The Vortex” and became Artistic Director for Eva la Galliene’s Civic Reperatory Theatre. Her designs for Broadway included “Cradle Song” (1927), “This Year of Grace” (1928), “Bitter Sweet” (1929), “Autumn Crocus” (1932), “Private Lives” (1935), “Design for Living” (1933), “Conversation Piece” (1934), and many, many more. She continued to work as a designer until 1964, doing some work for film that included four Coward adaptations in the 1940s.
She also did some design work for film, including four Coward adaptations in the 1940s. She also published her first and only novel, Paper Pattern in 1940.
During World War II, she served in the Mechanical Transport Corps and by 1953, Calthrop illustrated the Noël Coward Song Book (1953). In 1980, she passed away at the age of 85
Here are a few examples of her design work. I was unsuccessful in finding any scene painting examples.
By 1953, she illustrated the Noel Coward Song Book (1953). In 1980, Gladys passed away at the age of 85 years old.
Really nice to read your about my fairly distant relative Gladys Calthrop whom unfortuanely I never met. Her life story fascinates me, her work I think enchanting. I have learnt about her really only from books etc.
Noel Coward’s works I have enjoyed, even before I knew about Gladys and that she was such a friend who worked so closely with him.
It has been fun thinking about such a person being part of our family and we can’t help ourselves comparing family traits. A special uncle of mine had theatrical talent. He acted in and directed a number of plays and enjoyed those of Noel Coward. Costuming and staging he was quite particular about.
Best wishes for all your work in the future and thank you for helping to keep her work alive and meaningful today.
Kind regards
Diane
You are welcome! I am so glad that you enjoyed the post.