houghton, Stanley, 1881-1913

Stanley Houghton was one of the best of a group of playwrights often labelled the Manchester School. He was born in 1881 in Ashton-upon-Mersey, Cheshire. In 1896 his parents moved to Alexander Park in Manchester, and Houghton attended Manchester Grammar School. He went directly from school into his father's cotton business, where he worked as a salesman whilst developing his skills as a playwright. He also supplemented his income by writing critical reviews for the Manchester Guardian.

A number of Houghton's plays were produced, including The Dear Departed (1908), The Younger Generation (1910) and his most famous work Hindle Wakes (1912). The success of the production of Hindle Wakes, which was first performed at the Aldwych Theatre in London, led him to take up playwriting full-time. He moved to Paris, but after only a few weeks there fell ill. Recurrent bouts of illness saw his health gradually deteriorate, and he died in Manchester on 11th December 1913.