Mrs Edward Compton (Virginia Bateman)

The Theatre Girls Club was founded by Mrs Edward Compton (Virginia Bateman) in 1914 to provide reasonably priced and sheltered temporary accommodation for young actresses, especially during rehearsals (which were not always paid at that period) or when they were looking for work. The club originally opened in Little Portland Street, but in 1916 it moved to the site of the Soho Club and Home for Working Girls at 59 Greek Street, Soho. The club flourished through to the 1950s, but fell into disuse in the late 1950s and 1960s.