Royal Court Theatre, Warrington

‘There are many plays of the type of “The Unmarried Mother,” this week occupying the boards of the Royal Court, some of which border very closely to vulgarity, but the present production, we are pleased to say, may not be included in that category. C. Vernon Proctor has wound a fine plot on this burning question of the day, and Mr. Oswald Cray is fortunate enough in being able to have such a capable array of talent at his disposal as in the present production. This drama, judging from the attendance during the week, has met with enormous success ... A play of the type of “The Unmarried Mother” touches the audience, our pockets, and our handkerchiefs. Widnes Examiner, 18 December 1915. Also the St. Helens Examiner and the Runcorn Examiner, 18 December 1915.

Performers: Matthew H Glenville and Co.

Advertised in the Runcorn Guardian, 9 May 1916: at the Royal Court Theatre, Warrington, during the week ‘Miss Emma Litchfield’s Company in a New Play of Home and Heart Interest, entitled- “Home Once More”‘.

The Era, 20 September 1916, listed The Little Grey Home in the West as On The Road from 18 September at the Court, Warrington.

The Era, 15 and 22 November 1916, listed The Man Who Stayed at Home (Blue) as On The Road from 20 November at the Royal Court, Warrington. The Nantwich Guardian and the Runcorn Guardian, 21 November 1916, advertised ‘The Enormously Successful Spy Play’ The Man Who Stayed at Home that week at the Royal Court Theatre, Warrington.

When Arthur Hinton inserted an advertisement in The Era, 14 March 1917, seeking theatres for The Black Sheep of the Family, his address for the following week was the Court Theatre, Warrington. Advertised in the Nantwich Guardian, 20 March 1917 (title only).

When Miss Emma Litchfield’s company advertised Always Welcome in The Stage, 21 and 28 June 1917, the address for the week beginning 25 June was the Court, Warrington. And when Miss Winifred Rutland of the Always Welcome company inserted a theatrical card in The Stage, 28 June 1917, her address for that week was Warrington.

The Era, 26 June 1918 listed Khaki and Blue as on the road at the ‘R.V.C., Warrington’ from June 24. It also had a small notice recording that the G. P. Vaudeville Enterprises company was performing Khaki and Blue at the Royal Court, Warrington.

Performed 9-14 September.

‘In the last number of “The Stage” special reference was made in the Canadian Notes to the dramatic work of H. A. [sic – W. A.] Tremayne, particularly in regard to his latest masterpiece, “The Alien,” which has just met with an immediate success in Canada. The play is an exceptionally strong one, full of love and dramatic incident, and is an eye-opener to the subtle machinations of the enemy alien working in our midst. Thanks to that powerful dramatic actor, W. S. Hartford, the play has been brought to this country, and it will be produced for the first time on England at the Royal Court Theatre on Monday next, where it will be played for one week on a short tour prior to its production in London. The cast will include that well known and charming actress, Miss Ida Strathan [sic – Stratham], and Mr. W. S. Hartford will be further supported by such distinguished artistes as Miss Theresa Osborne and Mr. Ronald Bayne, &c. A wonderful piece of scenic mechanism, representing an alien Zeppelin signalling station on the coast, will be introduced in the fourth act, and the play, which is full of absorbing situations, played by such a powerful London company, will no doubt meet with full appreciation in Warrington’. Runcorn Examiner, 9 November 1918; also the Widnes Examiner of the same date.

‘“Love, Honour, and the Woman,” which has been staged by Mr. Joseph Millane’s company at the Royal Court Theatre during the week, is a melodrama of the good old style, with a very villainous villain and villainess, who plot the death of a .universally beloved, good and kind hero. Their machinations are frustrated at length by the exploits of the gipsy girl heroine Bess. Miss Florence Churchill appears in the latter role with success, and puts plenty of energy into her acting. The hero’s part is taken by the author, Mr. Vincent W. Carlyle, who formerly served in France with the King’s Royal Rifles. A number of laughable interludes by the dude officer, the humble private, and their respective wives - the young mistress of the house and her maid - are very refreshing’. St Helens Examiner, 21 December 1918.

‘Another domestic drama which has been the attraction at the Royal Court Theatre this week is “His Last Leave.” Although we are revelling in the advent of peace, the scenes which are enacted “out there,” arouse much interest and admiration. The story centres around the attempt of a jealous couple to ruin the home-life of a soldier, who, previous to the war, had been one of the happiest of men. The conspirators meet with success for a time, but following the hero’s absence at the war the sinister attempts of the conspirators are revealed. The part of Richard Maxwell, the hero of the play, is taken by Mr. Norton Shields in a most realistic and impressive fashion. As Rose Maxwell, the suspected wife, Dorothie G. Kirke is a distinct success, and Mr. James Dart[sic - Hart] and Miss Nellie [sic – Millie] Phillips act the parts of the conspirators, Capt. the Hon. Robert Saltaire and Dora Wendova [sic], in a most life-like manner. Humour is also included in the piece, much amusement being supplied by Mr. F. Luard and Mr. James May as Corpl. Trimfoot and Pte. ‘Erb respectively, and also by Miss Lena Brand as Selina Kettle’. Runcorn Examiner, 26 July 1919.