Lilian Baylis

Lilian Baylis (May 9, 1874 - November 25, 1937) was a British theatrical producer and manager and the founder of a ballet company.

Related Topics:
May 9 - 1874 - November 25 - 1937 - British - Theatrical producer - Ballet

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Born in London in 1874. In 1898, she was called from South Africa to assist her aunt Emma Cons in running The Royal Victoria Hall And Coffee Tavern near Waterloo station. Following Cons' death in 1912, she took over the management of the theatre, renaming it the "Old Vic" and going on to run it for the rest of her life. One of her finest achievements at the Old Vic was to produce a full cycle of Shakespeare's plays, starting with The Taming of the Shrew in 1914 to Troilus and Cressida in 1923.

Related Topics:
London - 1874 - 1898 - South Africa - Emma Cons - The Royal Victoria Hall And Coffee Tavern - Waterloo station - 1912 - The Taming of the Shrew - 1914 - Troilus and Cressida - 1923

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In 1925, Baylis sought to re-open the derelict Sadler's Wells Theatre and in 1927 established a ballet company there. For the first few years the drama and ballet companies, known as the "Vic-Wells" companies, rotated between the two theatres, with the ballet becoming permanently based at Sadler's Wells in 1935.

Related Topics:
1925 - Sadler's Wells - 1927 - 1935

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In 1928 the ballet company engaged Ninette de Valois, under whose direction British classical ballet developed at Sadler's Wells until eventually the ballet company became known as the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet Company until it moved to Birmingham in 1990.

Related Topics:
1928 - Ninette de Valois - Royal Ballet - 1990

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The current Sadler's Wells theatre contains a 200-seat theatre named in her honour. In Vauxhall there is the Lillian Baylis secondary school also named in her honour.

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