Hal Collier

‘Nurse and Martyr’ is the only piece by Hal Collier listed in Allardyce Nicoll’s English Drama 1900-1930. But Collier was a prolific author, frequently advertising typed pantos (all subjects), plays, revues, sketches and farces for sale in The Stage, claiming on 14 May 1925 to have ‘100 Typed Plays, Pantos’. The Stage, 28 May 1931, published his obituary: ‘His many friends will regret to hear that Mr. Hal Collier, the actor and author, died on Thursday, May 21, at the age of 86. He had been in the profession from the age of nineteen, playing many parts, mostly in Shakespeare. He toured his own companies for many years, and also ran sketches in the music-halls. His last part was Old Bill in “The Better ‘Ole”’. The Stage also published a notice: ‘Collier. On May 21, 1931, Hal Collier (Actor-Author). Passed peacefully away. Deeply mourned by his sorrowing daughter. From love’s shining circle the gems drop away’.