Cavalcade, written by Noël Coward (1899-1973), and produced at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, from 13th October 1931 to 10th September 1932.

Scenes from Cavalcade, written by the English dramatist Noël Coward (1899-1973), and produced, with its cast of 400, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London,  from 13th October 1931 to 10th September 1932.

Noel Coward’s play Cavalcade and its cast of 400 opens at the Drury Lane because of the theatre’s size and technical capacity. The 6 hydraulic lifts and space for lighting and flying effects made this one of the season’s most popular production

Filming a performance of Noel Coward's play Cavalcade, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, prior to making a film adaptation released in 1933, 1931. Illustration from Pageant of the Century (Odhams Press Limited, London, c1934).

(Left to right) Photograph of Noël Coward, maker unknown, early 1930s, London. Printed flyer for Noël Coward’s production of 'Cavalcade', 1932, Drury Lane Theatre, London. 

   'Cavalcade' is a dramatic film about an upper class English family and their servants, directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Clive Brook, Diana Wynyard, Una O'Connor and Herbert Mundin. It was an adaptation of the 1931 hit London stage play of the same name, by Noel Coward, which ran for 405 performances.

   The movie was a major financial success, grossing over seven times its production costs and it was also well received by the critics, being nominated for four Academy Awards and winning three, including Best Picture and best Director for Frank Lloyd. It was Lloyd's second Directing Oscar after winning in 1930 for 'The Divine Lady' and he would be nominated a third time for 'Mutiny on the Bounty' in 1935.

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Home Chat, written by Noël Coward (1899-1973) in 1927 and first performed at the Duke of York's Theatre in London on 25 October that year.

   A scene from Home Chat, written by the British dramatist Noël Coward (1899-1973) in 1927 and first performed at the Duke of York's Theatre in London on 25 October that year. 

   Home Chat is a play by Noël Coward, written in 1927 and presented in London in the same year. It depicts the domestic affairs of a married couple and their family and friends, and revolves around an unjustified suspicion that the principal female character has committed adultery.

Alec Stone (George Curzon) finds Peter Chelsworth (Arthur Margetson) and Janet Ebony (Madge Titheradge) in seemingly compromising contact.

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The Marquise (A Comedy in Three Acts), written by Noël Coward (1899-1973), and produced at the Criterion Theatre, London, from 16th February to 11th June 1927.

    A scene from The Marquise (A Comedy in Three Acts), written by the English dramatist Noël Coward (1899-1973), and produced at the Criterion Theatre, London, from 16th February to 11th June 1927. 

   The Marquise is a romantic comedy play by Noël Coward, written as a vehicle for Marie Tempest, who starred in the original 1927 production in London. Later players of the central role have included Lillian Gish, Celia Johnson, Moira Lister, Diana Rigg and Kate O'Mara.

Frank Cellier, Marie Tempest and W. Graham Brown in Act III, 1927

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Hay Fever (a comic play, 1924), written by Noël Coward (1899-1973), and produced at the Phoenix Little Theater, in 1934.

A scene from Hay Fever (a comic play, 1924), written by the English dramatist Noël Coward (1899-1973), and produced at the Phoenix Little Theater, in 1934.

"Hay Fever" by Noel Coward at the Phoenix Little Theater. 1934

The Vortex (a play in three acts), written by Noël Coward (1899-1973), and started on November 25, 1924, at the Everyman Theatre, London, Royalty Theatre, London, and another theatre, until June 1925.

   Scenes from The Vortex (a play in three acts), written by the English dramatist Noël Coward (1899-1973), and started on November 25, 1924, at the Everyman Theatre, London, Royalty Theatre, London, and another theatre, until June 1925. 

   The play was followed by a British tour and a New York production in 1925–26. It has enjoyed several revivals and a film adaptation.

English actors Noel Coward and Lilian Braithwaite (1873 - 1948) in a scene from Coward's, 'The Vortex'

Noël Coward and Lilian Braithwaite in Act III

Noel Coward and Lilian Braithwaite in a scene from  'The Vortex', at the Everyman Theatre 

THE VORTEX NOEL COWARD, LILIAN BRAITHWAITE

Sirocco (a play in four acts), written by Noël Coward (1899-1973), and opened at Daly's Theatre, London, on 24 November 1927.

A scene from Sirocco (a play in four acts), written by the English dramatist Noël Coward (1899-1973), and opened at Daly's Theatre, London, on 24 November 1927. The production was directed by Basil Dean, with the designer of Gladys Calthrop.

Act II, scene 2: Sirio, standing on bar, watched by Lucy, seated

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I'll Leave It to You (A Light Comedy in Three Acts), written by Noël Coward (1899-1973), and produced at the Gaiety Theatre, Manchester, on 3 May 1920, directed by Stanley Bell.

    A scene from I'll Leave It to You (A Light Comedy in Three Acts), written by the English dramatist Noël Coward (1899-1973), and produced at the Gaiety Theatre, Manchester, on 3 May 1920, directed by Stanley Bell.

    Noël Coward was encouraged by the producer Gilbert Miller, who suggested the idea for I'll Leave It to You. Miller presented the play at the Gaiety Theatre, Manchester, on 3 May 1920, directed by Stanley Bell; it ran for 24 performances there and then transferred to the New Theatre in London, where it ran from 21 July for 37 performances. It was the first of Coward's plays to be staged.

Bobbie (Noël Coward) and Faith (Esmé Wynne), 1920

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