Violet Vanbrugh (1867-1942)

Violet Vanbrugh (1867-1942)

Violet Augusta Mary Barnes (her real name) was born in Exeter on 11th June, 1867. She was the daughter of the Reverend Reginald H. Barnes, Dean of Exeter, and his wife Frances (Fanny) [nee Nation]. She was the eldest of three siblings who would each pursue successful stage careers - Violet herself, sister Irene (Vanbrugh) who was made a Dame for her services to theatre, and brother Kenneth (Barnes).

Violet was raised in Exeter and later educated in France and Germany. She first appeared on stage in a walk-on role in the burlesque "Faust and Loose" at Toole's Theatre in February 1886. Being almost nineteen years of age, she could be considered a relatively late starter for a theatrical career in those days, as most began in their early teens. She soon made up for any lost time however, that inauspicious starter giving little portent of the distinguished career that was to follow. She next appeared as 'Ellen' in "The Little Pilgrims" at The Criterion in July 1886, her first West End appearance.

She then moved to the Theatre Royal in Margate, playing in a number of roles whilst learning to perfect her theatrical talents under the guidance and tutelage of the distinguished actress/manager Sarah Thorne (who would be equally instrumental in launching her sister Irene's theatrical career). She next rejoined Toole's company playing 'Lady Anne' in "The Butler" on tour and later back at Toole's Theatre in Charing Cross. She stayed with Toole through the early part of 1897 playing in numerous roles in comedy and 'straight' drama. She returned to Margate later that year where, among others, she appeared in her first Shakespearean roles of 'Ophelia' in "Hamlet", 'Helena' in "A Midsummer Nights Dream", 'Rosalind' in "As you Like It", and 'Portia' in "The Merchant of Venice".

Although by now she was only a two years into her career she was proving a quick study. She had already accumulated a wealth of experience in a wide variety of roles, and her stage presence and acting talents were self-evident. In December 1888 she returned to London, initially to play 'Gertrude' in the "Deputy Registrar" at the Criterion. In March the following year she joined the Kendals at the Court Theatre as 'Lady Gillingham' in "The Weaker Sex", and later accompanied them to America.

Violet made her first appearance on the New York stage as 'Lady Ingram' in the comedy "A Scrap of Paper" at the Fifth Avenue Theatre on 27th October, 1889. Also on that tour she appeared in the dramas "The Iron Master", "Impulse" and "A White Lie" and another comedy, "The Weaker Sex". Returning to England in 1891 she was engaged by Henry Irving at the Lyceum where she was a great success as 'Anne Boleyn' in his long-running (over 200 performances) revival of "King Henry VIII" - also starring the great dramatic actress Ellen Terry as 'Queen Katherine'. She remained on the following year to understudy Miss Terry in 'Cordelia' in "King Lear" and 'Rosamund' in "Beckett".

By now her acting credentials were firmly established and the following years would bring her work aplenty. In July 1893 she joined Augustin Daly's company at Daly's Theatre where she met the actor Arthur Bourchier whom she married the following year. They first appeared on stage together, quite fittingly, in Daly's production of "Love in Tandem". Bourchier went into management himself in September 1895 when he took over the lease of The Royalty, and Violet, now Mrs Bourchier, soon joined him there as his leading lady on-stage as well as off. She subsequently appeared in a number of her husbands productions there including "The Chilli Widow" (in which her sister Irene also appeared), "Mr and Mrs", "Monsieur de Paris" and "The Queens Proctor". Although Bourchier's tenure at the Royalty was short lived, it did mark the beginning of a long and successful stage partnership between the married couple.

In 1897 Violet, together with her sister Irene, accompanied her husband on a tour of America playing in various farces and comedies. Back in England, Bourchier produced the play "Teresa" at the Metropole with Violet in the title role. In September 1900, after a short spell in joint-management at the Criterion with the vastly experienced Charles Wyndham, Bourchier took over the lease of the Garrick, then on 1st March, 1902, Violet bore him their first child. It was a daughter, Prudence Bourchier, who like her mother and aunt, was to become a successful actress under the stage name of Vanbrugh.

Bourchier ran the Garrick for over six years, with Violet regularly starring in his productions there. These included; "The Bishop's Move", "My Lady Virtue", "Whitewashing Julia", "The Arm of the Law" and "The Fairy's Dilemma" to name but a few. Much of Bourchier's success in this period could be attributed to the talent and popularity of his accomplished wife. Their greatest success in this period was undoubtedly "The Walls of Jericho" by Alfred Sutro. It was the story of a man who returned from making his fortune in Australia to find London society rotten to the core and his wife being slowly seduced by its corrupting influence. He then turned his back on London for good and persuaded his wife to return with him to a simpler life in Australia, thus bringing down his own 'Walls of Jericho'. The production opened on 31st October, 1904, and ran for an impressive 423 performances.

In 1905, Violet played 'Portia' in her husband's production of "The Merchant of Venice" at the Garrick and in a command performance for King Edward at Windsor Castle (16th November, 1905). Although Bourchier's tenure at the Garrick ended in 1906, the couple regularly appeared on stage together in the years that followed. In 1908 they toured in "John Glayde's Honour", and in 1910 were a great success in Sir Herbert Tree's production of "King Henry XIII" - as King Henry and Queen Katherine repectively. The following year they appeared on film together reprising their roles in the latter production in Tree's self-directed silent movie of the piece.

Two years later, in 1913, the couple produced their own movie in Germany of scenes from MacBeth with themselves in the leading roles. Also that year they took part in a testimonial variety performance at His Majesty's to raise funds to provide an annuity for the famous baritone William Ludwig, who had become severely ill and fallen upon hard times. Such was their success by now that unlike so many others their careers were little affected by the outbreak of the Great War (WWI). In July 1915 they repeated their roles in "King Henry VIII" in the 'all-star' benefit performance for the King George's Actor's Pension Fund at His Majesty's Theatre.

As successful as their stage partnership had been however, by now their marriage was failing. After a final tour in 1916 they went their own ways and were divorced two years later. Bourchier subsequently married another Violet, the actress Violet Marion Kyrle Bellew who was twenty-seven years his junior. Violet never remarried, but continued to be a regular on the West End stage until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. Amongst the many stage roles in which Violet appeared in that period, she was widely applauded for giving an outstanding performance as 'Mrs Vexted' in "Thunder in the Air" at the Duke of York's in April 1928.

As well as appearing in many plays, Violet appeared in three more movies during the 1930s, including the 1938 production of "Pygmalion" starring Lesley Howard and Wendy Hiller in the lead roles. Violet played the "Ambassadress" in a strong supporting British cast which also included Marie Lohr and Iris Hoey. In 1937, she celebrated her golden jubilee after fifty years on stage with a return to her role in "The Merry Wives of Windsor" at The Ring Blackfriars and the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park. She retired from the stage shortly thereafter, making one last appearance on film in "Young Man's Fancy" in 1940.

Violet Vanbrugh died in London on November 10, 1942. Although her fifty year career was perhaps somewhat overshadowed by that of her sister Irene, it was nevertheless an important, successful and illustrious one. She excelled in the mock exaggeration of seriousness, and intensity of pathos which were so very necessary for her roles in the many farces which were her husbands forte. Nor was she without versatility, being equally at home in the serious tragedy of many of Shakespeare's great heroines. Although by no means one of the leading beauties of the day, she was tall and elegant, and brought force and vigour to all of the many characters she played.

Movie Credits (source www.imdb.com)
1911 - Henry VIII [Queen Catherine]
1913 - Macbeth [Lady Macbeth]
1931 - Captivation [Lady Froster]
1935 - Joy Ride [Duchess]
1938 - Pygmalion [Ambassadress]
1940 - Young Man's Fancy