Allan Aynesworth Collection
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| This material is held at | V&A Department of Theatre and Performance |
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/63 |
| Dates of Creation | 1912-1955 |
| Name of Creator | Allan Aynesworth |
| Language of Material | English |
| Physical Description | 1 box (6 folders) |
Scope and Content
These folders contain materials related to the stage and screen career of Allan Aynesworth; including photographs, a play-text, a prompt script, writings and a cuttings scrapbook.
Administrative / Biographical History
Born in 1887, Allan Aynesworth began his acting career in Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree's 1887 production of The Red Lamp. In 1895 he played Algernon in the premiere production of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest at the St James' Theatre, London. He went on to appear in many productions, mainly in London theatres, and in 1912 became an actor-manager at the New Theatre with Ready Money. The following year he took over the Garrick and in 1914, with Bronson Albery, the Criterion.
Aynesworth also appeared in a number of films, including The Iron Duke (1935), Brewster's Millions (1935) and The Last Days of Dolwyn (1949).
Aynesworth died at the age of 95 in Surrey.
Arrangement
This collection has been organised into the following series:
- THM/63/1 - Scrapbook
- THM/63/2 - Photographs and Images
- THM/63/3 - Play-text
- THM/63/4 - Correspondence
- THM/63/5 - Writings
- THM/63/6 - Prompt Script
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is available for consultation in the V&A Department of Theatre and Performance's Reading Room, which is located at Blythe House, 23 Blythe Rd, Olympia, London, W14 0QX. The Reading Room is open Tuesday to Friday between 10.15 am and 4.30 pm. Access to it is by appointment only. To request an appointment please email tmenquiries@vam.ac.uk or telephone 020 7942 2698.
Access to some of these files may be restricted. These are identified at file level.
Conditions Governing Use
Archival material may not be photocopied. Arrangements can be made to photograph material in the reading room using non-flash photography.
Appraisal Information
This collection was appraised in line with the collection management policy.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Related Material
See also the core collections of the V&A Theatre and Performance Department. Material relating to Allan Aynesworth may be found in several collections, including the biographical, productions, company and photographs files.
Please ask for details.
Subjects | |
| Theatrical managers -- Great Britain | |
| Actors -- Great Britain | |
Personal Names | |
| Aynesworth, Allan. ( 1864-1959) | |
| Wilde, Oscar. ( 1854-1900) | |
Cataloguing Info
| Title | Allan Aynesworth Collection |
| Creation | Created by Veronica Castro using the cheshire for archives ead creation tool 2011-10-17 |
Scrapbook
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/63/1 |
| Dates of Creation | 1912 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Scope and Content
This folder contains the following:
- One scrapbook containing clippings of production reviews and features relating to productions in which Aynesworth appeared. All cuttings are from national publications and dated from 1912.
- One small envelope containing loose newspaper cuttings relating to Council's Opinion at the Strand Theatre, London. All cuttings are dated 1931.
Personal Names | |
| Aynesworth, Allan. ( 1864-1959) | |
Photographs and Images
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/63/2 |
| Dates of Creation | 1912-1949 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Scope and Content
This folder contains the following:
- Black and white reproduction of an illustration of Aynesworth, inscribed: "Photo of original at Baillie Gallery, Dec 1912. Original in possession of Lieut-Col. Roundell, (illegible)."
- Black and white photographic reproduction of painted portrait of Aynsworth, inscribed: "Allan Aynesworth painted by Meaurice Codron, R.P., Royal Academy, 1935, Now hanging in the Garrick Club.", dated 1938.
- Black and white photograph of Aynesworth in the film the Last Days of Dolwyn, dated 1949.
- Black and white photograph of Aynesworth in costume from an unknown production, undated.
- Colour image of actor Mr Bourchier as Shylock, undated.
- Three from The Real Thing: two of which are signed, the other dated Sept 1913.
- One portrait, undated.
- Three from Billy's Little Love Affair: one inscribed on reverse, undated.
- One from The Clandestine Marriage: inscribed on reverse, undated.
- One from The Real Woman: inscribed on reverse, undated.
- Two from The Truth, undated.
Personal Names | |
| Aynesworth, Allan. ( 1864-1959) | |
Play-text
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/63/3 |
| Dates of Creation | 1933 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Scope and Content
This folder comprises a copy of the play-text for The Old Master by Henry Bernard, not annotated, dated Oct 1933.
Personal Names | |
| Bernard, Henry | |
| Aynesworth, Allan. ( 1864-1959) | |
Correspondence
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/63/4 |
| Dates of Creation | 1955 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Scope and Content
This folder conatins four copies of two letters sent from Aynesworth to a correspondent, listing the plays in which he performed at the St. James' Theatre, London. Also included is a list of the plays in which he performed at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. Two of the letters and the list are annotated and all are dated Feb-Mar 1955.
Personal Names | |
| Aynesworth, Allan. ( 1864-1959) | |
Writings
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/63/5 |
| Dates of Creation | 1912-1955 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Scope and Content
This folder contains the following:
- Copy of a lecture given by Aynesworth at "several schools of dramatic art", entitled What it Means to Produce a Play: annotated and undated.
- Three typed pieces of writing, titled 'Article II', 'III' and 'IV' respectively, possibly part of an unpublished autobiography: all annotated and undated.
- Two typed copies of a comprehensive summary of his stage career from1887-1947, written by Aynesworth, detailing theatres performed in, authors in whose plays he performed, film and radio appearances, and actors he performed with. Both copies are undated.
Personal Names | |
| Aynesworth, Allan. ( 1864-1959) | |
Prompt Script
| Reference Number(s) | GB 71 THM/63/6 |
| Dates of Creation | 1923 |
| Physical Description | 1 folder |
Scope and Content
Prompt book for The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, for a performance at the Haymarket Theatre, 1923. Annotated.
Personal Names | |
| Aynesworth, Allan. ( 1864-1959) | |
| Wilde, Oscar. ( 1854-1900) | |
Geographical Names | |
| Haymarket Theatre, London | |
