Calthrop, G. E.

Noel Coward's historical extravaganza Cavalcade, opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane (now the Drury Lane Theatre ), London, England in 1931. The play ran from October 13, 1931 through September 10, 1932. Cast included Mary Clare, Edward Sinclair,John Mills, and others. The scenery and costumes were designed by Gladys E. Calthrop. The plot chronicled about thirty years in the lives of two British families, the Marryots and the Bridges, from New Years Eve 1899 to New Years Eve 1933. One family is well-to-do and the other is not as well off, and the play shows various historical events through their eyes such as the Titanic disaster, the death of Queen Victoria, and World War I. The play required a huge cast, gargantuan sets, and a complex hydraulic stage.

From the guide to the G. E. Calthrop costume designs for, Cavalcade, 1931., (Harvard Theatre Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

Noel Coward's historical extravaganza Cavalcade, opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane (now the Drury Lane Theatre), London, England in 1931. The play ran from October 13, 1931 through September 10, 1932. Cast included Mary Clare, Edward Sinclair, John Mills, and others. The scenery and costumes were designed by Gladys E. Calthrop. The plot chronicled about thirty years in the lives of two British families, the Marryots and the Bridges , from New Years Eve 1899 to New Years Eve 1933. One family is well-to-do and the other is not as well off, and the play shows various historical events through their eyes such as the Titanic disaster, the death of Queen Victoria, and World War I. The play required a huge cast, gargantuan sets, and a complex hydraulic stage.

From the description of G. E. Calthrop costume designs for Cavalcade, 1931. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 659793168

Gladys Calthrop (1894-1980) was an English set and costume designer. Born Gladys Treeby in Devon, Calthrop married, and later separated from, Everard E. Calthrop. She met Noel Coward in Italy during 1921, they subsequently became friends and worked together on many plays. Their first collaboration was on The Vortex in 1924 for which Calthrop designed both sets and costumes. She worked in both London and New York.

Gladys Calthrop designed costumes, set and props for Alice in Wonderland first produced at Scala Theatre, premiered on 24 December 1943 and revived at the Palace Theatre in 1944. She designed costumes for Twelfth Night produced at Civic Theater, New York in 1926.

From the guide to the Gladys Calthrop Design Collection, 1890s-1950s, (V&A Department of Theatre and Performance)