Hubert Henry Davies
Encyclopedia
Hubert Henry Davies was a leading British
playwright of the early twentieth century, following in the tradition of Arthur Wing Pinero
and Henry Arthur Jones
, but influenced profoundly by Thomas William Robertson
. He was born in Woodley, Cheshire
and spent some time as a journalist in San Francisco.
He began his career in New York with The Weldons (1899) and on his return to Britain collaborated successfully with the actor-manager Charles Wyndham
to produce four West End productions including Cousin Kate (Theatre Royal Haymarket, 1903) and Mrs. Gorringe's Necklace (Wyndham's Theatre
, 1903).
His best known work was The Mollusc. Originally produced by and starring Charles Wyndham
at the Criterion Theatre
, London, in 1907, it was revived in London at the Arts Theatre
in 1949, at Liverpool Playhouse
in 2006 (although the title was changed to The Lady of Leisure), and at the Finborough Theatre
, London, in 2007 and has also been filmed. His plays were also successful in New York. .
During the First World War, he worked in France
as a hospital orderly which led to a nervous breakdown, and he was found dead at Robin Hood's Bay
, Yorkshire
in 1917.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
playwright of the early twentieth century, following in the tradition of Arthur Wing Pinero
Arthur Wing Pinero
Sir Arthur Wing Pinero was an English actor and later an important dramatist and stage director.-Biography:...
and Henry Arthur Jones
Henry Arthur Jones
Henry Arthur Jones was an English dramatist.-Biography:Jones was born at Granborough, Buckinghamshire to Silvanus Jones, a farmer. He began to earn his living early, his spare time being given to literary pursuits...
, but influenced profoundly by Thomas William Robertson
Thomas William Robertson
Thomas William Robertson , usually known professionally as T. W. Robertson, was an Anglo-Irish dramatist and innovative stage director best known for a series of realistic or naturalistic plays produced in London in the 1860s that broke new ground and inspired playwrights such as W.S...
. He was born in Woodley, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
and spent some time as a journalist in San Francisco.
He began his career in New York with The Weldons (1899) and on his return to Britain collaborated successfully with the actor-manager Charles Wyndham
Charles Wyndham
Sir Charles Wyndham was an English actor-manager, born as Charles Culverwell in Liverpool, the son of a doctor. He was educated abroad, at King's College London and at the College of Surgeons and the Peter Street Anatomical School, Dublin...
to produce four West End productions including Cousin Kate (Theatre Royal Haymarket, 1903) and Mrs. Gorringe's Necklace (Wyndham's Theatre
Wyndham's Theatre
Wyndham's Theatre is a West End theatre, one of two opened by the actor/manager Charles Wyndham . Located on Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster, it was designed by W.G.R. Sprague about 1898, the architect of six other London theatres between then and 1916...
, 1903).
His best known work was The Mollusc. Originally produced by and starring Charles Wyndham
Charles Wyndham
Sir Charles Wyndham was an English actor-manager, born as Charles Culverwell in Liverpool, the son of a doctor. He was educated abroad, at King's College London and at the College of Surgeons and the Peter Street Anatomical School, Dublin...
at the Criterion Theatre
Criterion Theatre
The Criterion Theatre is a West End theatre situated on Piccadilly Circus in the City of Westminster, and is a Grade II* listed building. It has an official capacity of 588.-Building the theatre:...
, London, in 1907, it was revived in London at the Arts Theatre
Arts Theatre
The Arts Theatre is a theatre in Great Newport Street, in Westminster, Central London. It now operates as the West End's smallest commercial receiving house.-History:...
in 1949, at Liverpool Playhouse
Liverpool Playhouse
The Liverpool Playhouse is a theatre in Williamson Square in the city of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It originated in 1866 as a music hall, and in 1911 developed into a repertory theatre. As such it nurtured the early careers of many actors and actresses, some of which went on to achieve...
in 2006 (although the title was changed to The Lady of Leisure), and at the Finborough Theatre
Finborough Theatre
The Finborough Theatre is a fifty seat theatre in the Earls Court area of London, United Kingdom , which presents new British writing, UK and premieres of new plays, primarily from the English speaking world including North America, Canada, Scotland and Ireland, music theatre, and rarely seen...
, London, in 2007 and has also been filmed. His plays were also successful in New York. .
During the First World War, he worked in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
as a hospital orderly which led to a nervous breakdown, and he was found dead at Robin Hood's Bay
Robin Hood's Bay
Robin Hood’s Bay is a small fishing village and a bay located five miles south of Whitby and 15 miles north of Scarborough on the coast of North Yorkshire, England. Bay Town, its local name, is in the ancient chapelry of Fylingdales in the wapentake of Whitby Strand.-Toponymy:The origin of the name...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
in 1917.