Great War Theatre

Edmond's real name was Edward Henry John Edmonds. He was born in Moss Side, Manchester and his birth was registered at Chorlton (a district including Moss Side and Manchester) between January and March 1872. He was baptised in Sale, Cheshire on 16 June 1872. His parents were Edward Edmonds, an actor and stage manager, born in Poplar, Middlesex, and Lydia, an actress born in Hull. In 1881 they had four other children and were living with Lydia's sister. At some point over the next ten years, however, Lydia died, and in 1891 Edward senior was living in Stile Lane, Bristol in the household of Frederick Vincent, and working as stage manager of the Prince's Theatre. The same year, Edward Junior, aged 22, now an actor married Florence Mary Austin, aged 21, in the West Derby register office. They had a daughter, Millicent Lydia who was born in Wrexham, North Wales on 16 December 1891. By 1911 Edmonds was working as a theatrical manager. Three years later, in March 1914, Florence Mary filed a petition for divorce and the final decree was granted on 1 February 1915. In September 1915 Edmonds married Gladys Howitt (an actress in Edward's company and later to play alongside him in his 1918 play Called Up). Edmonds and Gladys had two children, John E. F. Edmonds in late 1918 and David B. Edmonds in the middle of 1924. The Barnsley Independent of Saturday 13 July 1918 has a fine write-up of Edward and his company: ‘The repertory season at the Theatre Royal is coming to an end, and Mr. E. Vivian Edmonds, Barnsley’s most popular acting manager, is, after producing 19 successful plays in 15 weeks, about to crown his wonderful record by producing his latest play, entitled Called Up. During the repertory season the work must have been very strenuous, and we can only wonder that after having done so well Mr. Edmonds has managed to write a new play, which we are sure will be a success. During his stay in Barnsley he has produced some excellent plays, and never once has he failed to put them on in a style worthy of a first-class London theatre. We recall his productions of The Lifeguardsman, The Prince and the Beggar Maid, and Her Love against the World, and marvel that after a record like that Mr. Edmonds has managed to go one better and add another play to his extensive repertoire. Mr. Edmonds will leave many friends in Barnsley, who will be ready to welcome him the next time he returns. We are sure those friends will give him a send-off by packing the Theatre each night, thus rewarding him for his work during the last fifteen weeks, and letting him know that when he leaves Barnsley, Barnsley playgoer’s (sic) hearts go with him and his charming wife’. Edmonds died, aged, 65, in 1937. The Stage of Thursday 2 December 1937 reported, 'We much regret to announce the death, on Friday [26 November], at 66, Ashworth Mansions, Maida Vale, of E. Vivian Edmonds after a long period of failing health. He will be remembered by many of our readers as a touring manager in association with Mary Austin, presenting such well-known plays as Passion’s Power, The Cotton Spinner, The Golden Ladder and Woman and Wine. He was the author of many successful plays, among which were A King’s Romance, Her Only Son, Maid of the Mill, etc'.

Gender: Male

Served in the armed forces? No

Scripts associated with E. Vivian Edmonds

Script Role
Her Only Son Author
The Third Man Author
Called Up [Coming Home] Author


Performances associated with E. Vivian Edmonds

Date Scripts Performed Theatre Role
1 Jul 1918 On Leave For His Wedding Theatre Royal Performer