Person    | Female  Born 9/5/1874  Died 25/11/1937

Lilian Baylis, C.H.

Categories: Theatre

Countries: Africa

Theatrical producer and manager. Born 19 Nottingham Street, Marylebone, Niece of Emma Cons. Managed the Old Vic and Sadler's Wells. Ran other companies which later became: The English National Opera, the National Theatre and the Royal Ballet.

"As the grandmother of our national theatre, as well as of our national opera and ballet, Lilian Baylis set an agenda of crusading hard work and devotion that is inspirational" Richard Eyre in 1991.

CH = Companion of Honour.

2020: David Sulkin OBE requested that we use this portrait of Baylis: "It hangs at the ENO downstairs outside the American bar. Here is a scan of it taken from a postcard. When I worked at ENO I arranged for the portrait to be cleaned and rehung. Yes she did have a funny mouth, caused, it is thought by Bell’s palsy. The current CEO of ENO, Stuart Murphy, would be delighted."

2023: David informed us: "The good news is that the portrait of Lilian Baylis has been moved from its dark downstairs location to the main staircase where is can be seen be as many people as care to look up at it."

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Lilian Baylis, C.H.

Commemorated ati

Lilian Baylis - SW9

Lilian Baylis, 1874 - 1937, manager of the Old Vic and Sadler's Wells Theatre...

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Lilian Baylis Tree

Aesculus Indica (Indian Horse Chestnut) planted by Hugh Jenkins, MP, Minister...

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Morley mosaics - WBR - Lilian Baylis

Lilian Baylis, born 1874. A niece of Emma Cons, Lilian flourished as a theatr...

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New Sadler's Wells Theatre

The Lilian Baylis tree was replanted on the 4th March 1996 in the presence of...

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South Bank mosaic - Lilian Baylis

Lilian Baylis Sylvia Richardson 2007

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Other Subjects

Saint Joan

Saint Joan

Play by George Bernard Shaw.  Joan's canonisation in 1920 may have suggested the topic to Shaw.  The premiere was in New York in December.  The London premiere was in March 1924 with Sybil Thorndik...

Fiction, Theatre

1 memorial
Bedford Music Halls, Old and New

Bedford Music Halls, Old and New

Performers and patrons were depicted by the artist Walter Sickert at the turn of the century.

Place, Theatre

1 memorial
George Grossmith, Jnr

George Grossmith, Jnr

Actor-manager and playwright. His father of the same name was also in show business. Often partnered Edmund Payne on stage (on Grossmith's right knee in this photo).

Person, Theatre

1 memorial
Ruthie Henshall

Ruthie Henshall

Actor, dancer and singer. Born in Bromley as Valentine Ruth Henshall. She has appeared in many west end productions, including 'Cats', 'Chicago' and 'Les Miserables'. Nominated five times for an Ol...

Person, Dance, Music / songs, Theatre

1 memorial
Richard Burton

Richard Burton

Actor. Born Richard Walter Jenkins at Pont-rhyd-y-fen, Wales. He was adopted by his English teacher Philip Burton, and took his surname. His first theatrical success was in Christopher Fry's 'The L...

Person, Cinema, Theatre, TV & Radio, Switzerland, Wales

1 memorial