Lottie Venne (28 May 1849 – 16 July 1928; born Hannah Charlotte Venn) was an English comic actress and singer of the

Victorian Victorian or Victorians may refer to: 19th century * Victorian era, British history during Queen Victoria's 19th-century reign ** Victorian architecture ** Victorian house ** Victorian decorative arts ** Victorian fashion ** Victorian literatur ...

and

Edwardian era In the United Kingdom, the Edwardian era was a period in the early 20th century that spanned the reign of King Edward VII from 1901 to 1910. It is commonly extended to the start of the First World War in 1914, during the early reign of King Ge ...

s, who enjoyed a theatre career spanning five decades. Venne began her stage career in musical burlesque before moving into

farce Farce is a comedy that seeks to entertain an audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd, and improbable. Farce is also characterized by heavy use of physical comedy, physical humor; the use of delibe ...

and comedy. She appeared in several works by each of F. C. Burnand and

W. S. Gilbert Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (18 November 1836 – 29 May 1911) was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his collaboration with composer Arthur Sullivan, which produced fourteen comic operas. The most fam ...

and was often in plays with Charles Hawtrey later in her career.

Early life and career

Venne was born in

Islington Islington ( ) is an inner-city area of north London, England, within the wider London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's #Islington High Street, High Street to Highbury Fields ...

, London, to Benjamin Venn, a performer, and his wife Rebecca. Her first professional appearance came in 1867 as Miss Charbonnel in ''A Dream in Venice'' at the

Gallery of Illustration The Royal Gallery of Illustration was a 19th-century performance venue located at 14 Regent Street in London. It was in use between 1850 and 1873. The gallery was built in the 1820s by the architect John Nash (architect), John Nash as part of h ...

in London, followed by two years touring in the provinces. For part of this time, she joined Captain Disney Roebuck's touring company, where she met her future husband, Walter H. Fisher. In London, in 1870, Venne played Susan Piper in ''A Bull in a China Shop'', a comedy by

Charles Mathews Charles Mathews (28 June 1776, London – 28 June 1835, Devonport) was an English theatre manager and comic actor, well known during his time for his gift of impersonation and skill at table entertainment. His play ''At Home'', in which he pl ...

at the

Haymarket Theatre The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre in Haymarket, London, Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in ...

. At the same theatre, she appeared as Jemima in ''Rural Felicity'' by

John Baldwin Buckstone John Baldwin Buckstone (14 September 1802 – 31 October 1879) was an English actor, playwright and comedian who wrote 150 plays, the first of which was produced in 1826. He starred as a comic actor during much of his career for various periods ...

."Miss Lottie Venne. Comedy and Burlesque." ''The Times'', 17 July 1928, p. 9 In the early 1870s, she played many roles in musical burlesques such as Francis Talfourd's ''Atalanta'' as

Cupid In classical mythology, Cupid ( , meaning "passionate desire") is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. He is often portrayed as the son of the love goddess Venus and the god of war Mars. He is also known as Amor (Latin: ...

, ''

Little Jack Sheppard ''Little Jack Sheppard'' is a Victorian burlesque, burlesque melodrama written by Henry Pottinger Stephens and William Yardley (cricketer), William Yardley, with music by Meyer Lutz, with songs contributed by Florian Pascal,Florian Pascal was a p ...

'' as Jonathan Wild (1871 on tour), ''Dr. Faust'' as Franz, ''Ixion'' as Cupid (1873), and ''Don Juan'' as Zerlina (1873 at the

Alhambra Theatre The Alhambra Theatre was a popular theatre and music hall located on the east side of Leicester Square, in the West End of London. It was built as the Royal Panopticon of Science and Arts, opening on 18 March 1854. It was closed after two yea ...

)."Death of Miss Lottie Venne; Half-century on London Stage"
''The Argus'' Melbourne, Australia, 18 July 1928, accessed 17 November 2009 She played Polly Twinkle in '' La Vie parisienne'' in 1872, and, at the

Court Theatre A court is an institution, often a government entity, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and administer justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law. Courts general ...

, played in ''Christabel'', ''Zampa'', ''Lady Audley's Secret'' and others.Parker, John.
"Venne, Lottie"
''Who's Who in the Theatre'', pp. 829–31, Pitman, 1922 Venne played the role of Zayda in the 1873 play '' The Happy Land'' by

and

Gilbert Arthur à Beckett Gilbert Arthur à Beckett (April 7, 1837 – October 15, 1891) was an English writer. Biography Beckett was born at Portland House Hammersmith, on 7 April 1837, the eldest son of the civil servant and humorist Gilbert Abbott à Beckett and t ...

at the Court Theatre, together with Fisher. The same year, in the same house, she appeared in ''Playing with Fire''. In 1874, she joined the company at the Strand Theatre, where she first played Lady Constance in ''The Field of the Cloth of Gold''. She remained at that theatre for four years in burlesques and comedies, such as ''Nemesis'' by H. B. Farnie, ''Loo and the Party Who Took Miss'', ''Intimidad'', ''Flamingo'', ''Cracked Heads'' (1876, a parody of Gilbert's '' Broken Hearts'') by Arthur Clements and Frederick Hay, ''The Lying Dutchman'', ''

Princess Toto ''Princess Toto'' is a three-act comic opera by W. S. Gilbert and his long-time collaborator Frederic Clay. Its pre-London tour opened on 24 June 1876 at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, starring Kate Santley, W. S. Penley and J. H. Ryley. It tr ...

'' by Gilbert and

Frederic Clay Frederic Emes Clay (3 August 1838 – 24 November 1889) was an English composer known principally for songs and his music written for the stage. Although from a musical family, for 16 years Clay made his living as a civil servant in HM Treasury ...

, ''Champagne'', and as the Plaintiff in

Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900) and to the works they jointly created. The two men collaborated on fourteen com ...

's ''

Trial by Jury A jury trial, or trial by jury, is a legal proceeding in which a jury makes a decision or findings of fact. It is distinguished from a bench trial, in which a judge or panel of judges makes all decisions. Jury trials are increasingly used ...

'' in 1877, opposite Fisher's Defendant. Also at the Strand, she played Penelope, the bewildered housemaid, in

Sydney Grundy Sydney Grundy (23 March 1848 – 4 July 1914) was an English dramatist. Most of his works were adaptations of European plays, and many became successful enough to tour throughout the English-speaking world. He is, however, perhaps best remembe ...

's comedy ''The Snowball'' and appeared in ''Our Club'' and ''The Baby''. LottieVenne1889

She built her popularity through a series of roles in works by F. C. Burnand, including ''Dora and Diplunacy'', a burlesque of ''

Diplomacy Diplomacy is the communication by representatives of State (polity), state, International organization, intergovernmental, or Non-governmental organization, non-governmental institutions intended to influence events in the international syste ...

'' (in which she parodied

Effie Bancroft Marie Effie Wilton, Lady Bancroft (1836–1921) was an English actress and Actor-manager, theatre manager. She appeared onstage as Marie Wilton until after her marriage in December 1867 to Squire Bancroft, when she adopted his last name. Bancro ...

), ''Family Ties'' and ''

The Red Rover ''The Red Rover'' is a novel by American writer James Fenimore Cooper. It was originally published in Paris on November 27, 1827, before being published in London three days later on November 30. It was not published in the United States until J ...

'' (a burlesque of Robertson's sentimental plays). In 1879, at the

Royalty Theatre The Royalty Theatre was a small London theatre situated at 73 Dean Street, Soho. Established by the actress Frances Maria Kelly in 1840, it opened as Miss Kelly's Theatre and Dramatic School and finally closed to the public in 1938.

, she played Eliza in a revival of ''

The Zoo ''The Zoo'' is a one-act comic opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by B. C. Stephenson, writing under the pen name of Bolton Rowe. It premiered on 5 June 1875 at the St James's Theatre in London (as an afterpiece to W. S. Gi ...

'' by B. C. Stephenson and

Arthur Sullivan Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (13 May 1842 – 22 November 1900) was an English composer. He is best known for 14 comic opera, operatic Gilbert and Sullivan, collaborations with the dramatist W. S. Gilbert, including ''H.M.S. Pinaf ...

. The same year, she was particularly successful playing the title role in Burnand's farce ''Betsy'' at the

Criterion Theatre The Criterion Theatre is a West End theatre at Piccadilly Circus in the City of Westminster, and is a Grade II* listed building. It has a seating capacity of 588. Building the theatre In 1870, the caterers Spiers and Pond began developmen ...

. This was followed by comic roles such as Amy Jones in ''Crutch and Toothpick'' by G. R. Sims at the Royalty (1879), and by roles in '' Young Mrs. Winthrop'', and ''On Change''. She also played the title role in ''Jane''. In 1880, she was Kitty Clark in ''The Little Mother'' at the Gaiety Theatre, London. Venne appeared in the 1881 comedy ''Out of the Hunt'' at the

Comedy Theatre The Harold Pinter Theatre, known as the Comedy Theatre until 2011,

with E. H. Sothern. The same year, she played Mrs. Pilate Pump in ''Blue and Buff'', Mrs. Delafield in ''Reclaimed'' and Gwendolyn Kingfisher in ''Dust''. In 1882, she was Nettie Milsom in ''The Manager'' and starred as Mary Ledger, with

Marion Terry Marion Bessie Terry (born Mary Ann Bessy Terry; 13 October 1853 – 21 August 1930) was an English actress. In a career spanning half a century, she played leading roles in more than 125 plays. Always in the shadow of her older and more famous s ...

and

Johnston Forbes-Robertson Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson (16 January 1853 – 6 November 1937)''Sir Johnston Forbes Robertson, Beauty And Grace in Acting'', Obituaries, ''The Times'', 8 November 1937. was an English actor and theatre manager and husband of actress Gertrud ...

, in G. W. Godfrey's comedy ''The Parvenu'' at the Court Theatre. Reviewing the play, ''The Labour Standard'' wrote, "Venne is the Princess of the play; her style is charming, and her voice is clear and sweet." In 1883, she was Marceline in '' Lurette'', Fleurette in ''Barbe-Bleue'' and Peg O'Reilly in ''The Glass of Fashion'' by Grundy at the

Globe Theatre The Globe Theatre was a Theater (structure), theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 at Southwark, close to the south bank of the Thames, by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men. It was ...

, with

Herbert Beerbohm Tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (17 December 1852 – 2 July 1917) was an English actor and Actor-manager, theatre manager. Tree began performing in the 1870s. By 1887, he was managing the Haymarket Theatre in the West End theatre, West End, winning ...

. Among many other roles in the mid-1880s, she played Agatha Poskett in

Arthur Wing Pinero Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (24 May 1855 – 23 November 1934) was an English playwright and, early in his career, actor. Pinero was drawn to the theatre from an early age, and became a professional actor at the age of 19. He gained experience as a ...

's '' The Magistrate'' (1885 at the Court Theatre) and Honour in Robert Buchanan's ''Sophia'' (1886; adapted from Fielding's ''

Tom Jones Tom Jones may refer to: Arts and entertainment *Tom Jones (singer) (born 1940), Welsh singer *Tom Jones (writer) (1928–2023), American librettist and lyricist *''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', a novel by Henry Fielding published in 1 ...

'' at the

Vaudeville Theatre The Vaudeville Theatre is a West End theatre on the Strand in the City of Westminster. Opening in 1870, the theatre staged mostly vaudeville shows and musical revues in its early days. The theatre was rebuilt twice, although each new buildin ...

). In 1887, she was Rose in a version of the ''Arabian Nights'', by Von Moser, with Charles Hawtrey and W. S. Penley.Sharp, Robert Farquharson
''A short history of the English stage''
The Walter Scott publishing co., ltd., 1909 The next year, she starred as Mrs. Bardell with Rutland Barrington and Arthur Cecil at the Comedy Theatre in '' Pickwick'' by Burnand and

Edward Solomon Edward Solomon (25 July 1855 – 22 January 1895) was an English composer, conductor, orchestrator and pianist. He died at age 39 by which time he had written dozens of works produced for the stage, including several for the D'Oyly Carte Ope ...

. Barrington commented, "This great little artist possesses, in addition to her many charms, a wonderful manner of speaking that kind of doubtful line which is sometimes alluded to by journalists as 'skating on thin ice'; and this power was occasionally abused by authors, much to her distress. She once came to me at rehearsal and pointing out a speech said, 'B. dear, I can't say that, now, can I?' My obvious reply was, 'Well, Lottie, if you can't, no one can.'" She also appeared as Polly Eccles in ''

Caste A caste is a Essentialism, fixed social group into which an individual is born within a particular system of social stratification: a caste system. Within such a system, individuals are expected to marry exclusively within the same caste (en ...

'' by

T. W. Robertson Thomas William Robertson (9 January 1829 – 3 February 1871) was an English dramatist and stage director known for his development of Naturalism (theatre), naturalism in British theatre. Born to a theatrical family, Robertson began as an acto ...

(1889) at the Criterion Theatre. In 1890 she was Pert in ''

London Assurance ''London Assurance'' (originally entitled ''Out of Town'') is a five-act comedy co-authored by Dion Boucicault and John Brougham. While the play was collaboratively written by both playwrights, after the play's initial premiere Broughman, who o ...

'' by

Dion Boucicault Dionysius Lardner "Dion" Boucicault (né Boursiquot; 26 December 1820 – 18 September 1890) was an Irish actor and playwright famed for his melodramas. By the later part of the 19th century, Boucicault had become known on both sides of the ...

at the Avenue Theatre, followed by two seasons at the Comedy Theatre, including in ''Poet and Puppets'', a

travesty A travesty is an absurd or grotesque misrepresentation, a parody, or grossly inferior imitation. In literary or theatrical contexts it may refer to: *Burlesque, a literary, dramatic, or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the m ...

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish author, poet, and playwright. After writing in different literary styles throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular and influential playwright ...

's ''

Lady Windermere's Fan ''Lady Windermere's Fan, A Play About a Good Woman'' is a four-act comedy by Oscar Wilde, first performed on Saturday, 20 February 1892, at the St James's Theatre in London. The story concerns Lady Windermere, who suspects that her husband is ...

'', by Charles Brookfield, with Charles Hawtrey. In 1893, she was in a musical piece by Brookfield and

Seymour Hicks Sir Edward Seymour Hicks (30 January 1871 – 6 April 1949), better known as Seymour Hicks, was a British actor, music hall performer, playwright, actor-manager and producer. He became known, early in his career, for writing, starring in and p ...

called ''Under the Clock'' at the Court Theatre, also starring Brookfield as Sherlock Holmes and Hicks as Dr. Watson. Venne played Hannah, a maid of all-work. That year, she also played Zulu in ''Forbidden Fruit'' at the Vaudeville."Miss Lottie Venne", ''The Manchester Guardian'', 17 July 1928, p. 10

Later years

With the advent of

Edwardian musical comedy Edwardian musical comedy is a genre of British musical theatre that thrived from 1892 into the 1920s, extending beyond the reign of King Edward VII in both directions. It began to dominate the English musical stage, and even the American musical ...

, Venne appeared in

George Edwardes George Joseph Edwardes (né Edwards; 8 October 1855 – 4 October 1915) was an English theatre manager and producer of Irish ancestry who brought a new era in musical theatre to the British stage and beyond. Edwardes started out in theatre ma ...

hits as Lady Virginia Forrest in '' The Gaiety Girl'' (1893), as Madame Amelia in ''

An Artist's Model ''An Artist's Model'' is a two-act musical theatre, musical by Owen Hall, with lyrics by Harry Greenbank and music by Sidney Jones (composer), Sidney Jones, with additional songs by Joseph and Mary Watson, Paul Lincke, Frederick Ross, Henry Hamilt ...

'' (1895) and as Lady St. Mallory in '' Three Little Maids'' (1902). In 1894, she was in Burnand's ''A Gay Widow'' with Hawtrey and

Eva Moore Eva Moore (9 February 1868 – 27 April 1955) was an English actress. Her career on stage and in film spanned six decades, and she was active in the women's suffrage movement. In her 1923 book of reminiscences, ''Exits and Entrances'', she des ...

. After ''An Artist's Model'', she toured in the companies of

Lewis Waller William Waller Lewis (3 November 1860 – 1 November 1915), known on stage as Lewis Waller, was an English actor and theatre manager, well known on the London stage and in the English provinces. After early stage experience with John Lawrence T ...

and

Lillie Langtry Emilie Charlotte, Lady de Bathe (née Le Breton, formerly Langtry; 13 October 1853 – 12 February 1929), known as Lillie (or Lily) Langtry and nicknamed "The Jersey Lily", was a British socialite, stage actress and producer. Born on the isla ...

. She returned to London in 1896 and resumed playing a constant schedule of new roles, including Lady Barker in ''The Mermaids'' at the

Garrick Theatre The Garrick Theatre is a West End theatre, located in Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster, named after the stage actor David Garrick. It opened in 1889 with ''The Profligate'', a play by Arthur Wing Pinero, and another Pinero play, ...

. She was Lady Horton in ''The Royal Star'' with Willie Edouin (1898). She starred as Mrs. Candour in a 1900 revival of ''

The School for Scandal ''The School for Scandal'' is a comedy of manners written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It was first performed in London at Drury Lane Theatre on 8 May 1777. Plot Act I Scene I: Lady Sneerwell, a wealthy young widow, and her hireling S ...

'' at the Haymarket Theatre. Among her roles after this were Fatima Wilson West in ''The Love Birds'' at the

Savoy Theatre The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England. The theatre was designed by C. J. Phipps for Richard D'Oyly Carte and opened on 10 October 1881 on a site previously occupied by the Savoy ...

and Xenofa in ''His Highness, My Husband'' by William Boosey, at the Comedy Theatre, with Eric Lewis (1904)."His Highness My Husband"
at ''

The Play Pictorial ''The Play Pictorial'' was an English theatrical magazine that was published in London between 1902 and 1939. ''The Play Pictorial'' provided pictorial records of West End theatrical productions. Each issue described a single show, with descrip ...

'' 1902–1910, University of Kent at Canterbury, accessed 18 November 1009 She starred as Mrs. Parker-Jennings in

W. Somerset Maugham William Somerset Maugham ( ; 25 January 1874 – 16 December 1965) was an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories. Born in Paris, where he spent his first ten years, Maugham was schooled in England and went to a German un ...

's hit play ''Jack Straw'', in 1908, with Hawtrey at the

. In 1910, she appeared as Mrs. Cummin in ''Little Miss Cummin'' with

Marie Lohr Marie Kate Wouldes Lohr (28 July 1890 – 21 January 1975) was an Australian-born actress, active on stage and in film in Britain. During a career of more than 60 years she created roles in plays by, among others, Bernard Shaw, J. M. Barrie, ...

at the

Playhouse Theatre The Playhouse Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, located in Northumberland Avenue, near Trafalgar Square, central London. The Theatre was built by F. H. Fowler and Hill with a seating capacity of 1,200. It was rebuilt in ...

, and the same year, she was Mrs. Malaprop in ''

The Rivals ''The Rivals'' is a comedy of manners by Richard Brinsley Sheridan in five acts which was first performed at Covent Garden Theatre on 17 January 1775. The story has been updated frequently, including a 1935 musical and a 1958 List of Maverick ...

'', by

Richard Brinsley Sheridan Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan (30 October 17517 July 1816) was an Anglo-Irish playwright, writer and Whig politician who sat in the British House of Commons from 1780 to 1812, representing the constituencies of Stafford, Westminster and I ...

at the Lyric Theatre. The next year, among other roles, she was Mrs. Grundy in ''Orpheus in the Underground'' at His Majesty's Theatre. In 1912, at the Criterion, she was Lady Julia Ventermere in ''A Young Man's Fancy''. She continued to performa a heavy schedule through the end of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and beyond. Venne was also in the 1917 film ''Masks and Faces''. Later stage appearances included the role of Mrs Shuttleworth, with Charles Hawtrey and

Gladys Cooper Dame Gladys Constance Cooper (18 December 1888 – 17 November 1971) was an English actress, theatrical manager and producer, whose career spanned seven decades on stage, in films and on television. Beginning as a teenager in Edwardian musica ...

, in Maugham's '' Home and Beauty'' in 1919 at the Playhouse Theatre. That year, she was also Mary Knowle in ''The Romantic Age'', a comedy by

A. A. Milne Alan Alexander Milne (; 18 January 1882 – 31 January 1956) was an English writer best known for his books about the teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh, as well as children's poetry. Milne was primarily a playwright before the huge success of Winnie-th ...

at the Comedy Theatre. Later, she played Lady Catherine in ''The Circle'' at the Haymarket Theatre. She also reprised her role in ''Jack Straw'' (1923) and appeared in ''The Claimant'' (1924). The next year, at the

Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith The Lyric Theatre, also known as the Lyric Hammersmith, is a nonprofit theatre on Lyric Square, off King Street, Hammersmith, London."About the Lyric" > "History" ''Lyric'' official website. Retrieved January 2024. Background The Lyric Theatre ...

, she appeared in ''Lionel and Clarissa''. Her last performance was at the Lyric, Hammersmith on 30 September 1927. By the end of her career, Venne had appeared in over 200 roles. The theatre community feted Venne in a Jubilee "super-matinee" celebration on 13 November 1925. For the occasion,

J. M. Barrie Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, (; 9 May 1860 19 June 1937) was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. He was born and educated in Scotland and then moved to London, where he wrote several succe ...

provided scenes from a new play, ''Shall We Join the Ladies?'' starring Dion Boucicault, Jr., Gwen Ffrangcon Davies,

Ronald Squire Ronald Launcelot Squire (25 March 1886 – 16 November 1958) was an English character actor. Biography Born in Tiverton, Devon, England, the son of an army officer, Lt.-Col. Frederick Squirl and his Irish-born wife Mary (Ronald's surname 'Squ ...

Gerald du Maurier Sir Gerald Hubert Edward Busson du Maurier (26 March 1873 – 11 April 1934) was an English actor and Actor-manager, manager. He was the son of author George du Maurier and his wife, Emma Wightwick, and the brother of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies ...

and others. Others who took part in the celebration included

Sonnie Hale John Robert Hale-Monro (1 May 1902 – 9 June 1959), known as Sonnie Hale, was an English actor, screenwriter, and director. Early life John Robert Hale-Monro was born in Kensington, London, the son of Belle Reynolds and actor Robert Hal ...

Henry Ainley Henry Hinchliffe Ainley (21 August 1879 – 31 October 1945) was an English actor. Life and career Early years Ainley was born in Morley, West Yorkshire, Morley, near Leeds, on 21 August 1879, the only son and eldest child of Richard Ainley (18 ...

Jack Hulbert John Norman Hulbert (24 April 189225 March 1978) was a British actor, director, screenwriter and singer, specializing primarily in comedy productions, and often working alongside his wife (Dame) Cicely Courtneidge. Biography Born in Ely, C ...

Cicely Courtneidge Dame Esmerelda Cicely Courtneidge (1 April 1893 – 26 April 1980) was an Australian-born British actress, comedian and singer. The daughter of the producer and playwright Robert Courtneidge, she was appearing in his productions in the West End ...

Marie Tempest Dame Mary Susan Etherington (15 July 1864 – 15 October 1942), known professionally as Marie Tempest, was an English singer and actress. Tempest became a famous soprano in late Victorian era, Victorian light opera and Edwardian musical comedie ...

Madge Kendal Dame Madge Kendal (born Margaret Shafto Robertson; 15 March 1848 – 14 September 1935) was an English actress of the Victorian era, Victorian and Edwardian era, Edwardian eras, best known for her roles in Shakespeare and English comedies. Tog ...

(who gave the tribute to her) and

George Grossmith, Jr. George Grossmith Jr. (11 May 1874 – 6 June 1935) was an English actor, theatre producer and Actor-manager, manager, director, playwright and songwriter, best remembered for his work in and with Edwardian musical comedies. Grossmith was also a ...

"Miss Lottie Venne; Theatre Stars at Jubilee Matinee", ''The Manchester Guardian'', 14 November 1925, p. 11 Venne married the actor Walter H. Fisher, with whom she had performed early in her career on tour, in ''The Happy Land'' and in ''Trial by Jury''. Their son was the actor H. J. Fisher, and their daughter the actress Audrey Fisher. She died in a London nursing home in 1928, aged 79 years. Venne's obituary in ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'' commented that her "knowing smile, a smirk that was all her own, made her a personality regarded with real affection during her long areer.

Notes

References

* *Powell, G. Rennie (Rennie Palgrave). ''The Bristol Stage'', Bristol Printing & Publishing (1919)

External links

Venne
on the

National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: * National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra * National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London ...

website {{DEFAULTSORT:Venne, Lottie 1849 births 1928 deaths English stage actresses People associated with Gilbert and Sullivan