Maud Farrington

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(; 19 March 1892 – 18 June 1967) was a British theatre manager, who was the first woman to join the board of the

Liverpool Playhouse The Liverpool Playhouse is a theatre in Williamson Square in the city of Liverpool, England. It originated in 1866 as a music hall, and in 1911 developed into a repertory theatre. As such it nurtured the early careers of many actors and actre ...

in 1945.

Early years and education

Born in

Liverpool Liverpool is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the List of English districts by population, 10th largest English district by population and its E ...

, Maud was the daughter of George Carpenter, a bricklayer, and his wife Mary Jane.Document 283 BED/2/1
Liverpool Record Office. Retrieved 11 March 2016 She was educated in Liverpool.

Career

Carpenter began working in the box-office of Kelly's Theatre in

Paradise Street Paradise Street is a short street in the core area of Birmingham City Centre, in England. Paradise Street runs roughly from Victoria Square to Suffolk Street and Broad Street. The street existed in 1796 when a congregation gathered at a meeti ...

, Liverpool. She joined the Liverpool Playhouse in its first, experimental season in 1911, working as a secretary and an assistant, before becoming its Administrator in 1922. She was appointed its business manager in 1923, a year after William Armstrong was appointed the theatre's director, and they formed a successful partnership until his retirement in 1944. Carpenter remained the manager of the theatre until her retirement on 8 June 1962, and served on the board of the Playhouse until her death in 1967. Carpenter was the Founder President of Soroptimist International of Liverpool at its inauguration on 25 February 1927. She was then 34 years old. During her year of office, the Club campaigned vigorously to raise funds for the new Women's Hospital which was then being built in Liverpool. During the Second World War she was heavily involved in the establishment of a Club, the Angel Club, in Liverpool, staffed by Soroptimists and their friends, providing accommodation for members of H.M. Forces passing through the city; 350,000 service personnel used this facility during the war. Carpenter was a powerful influence on the theatre scene in Liverpool. Though she reportedly knew little about theatre and often got confused with the titles of plays, her enthusiasm and promotion of the theatre were well known locally, earning her the nickname "the Lady Mayoress of Liverpool". During

The Blitz The Blitz was a German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom in 1940 and 1941, during the Second World War. The term was first used by the British press and originated from the term , the German word meaning 'lightning war'. The Germa ...

of the Second World War, she would reputedly stand on the roof of the Playhouse yelling "Don't bomb my theatre. Don't bomb my theatre". She once scolded

Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor, director, and producer. One of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins has received many accolad ...

when he turned up at the theatre wearing jeans and an open neck shirt instead of dressing formally. The author

Sheila Hancock Dame Sheila Cameron Hancock (born 22 February 1933) is an English actress, singer, and author. Hancock trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before starting her career in repertory theatre. Hancock went on to perform in plays and musica ...

describes Carpenter as a "local powerhouse". Carpenter married Dr David Farrington in 1919; she died in 1967.

References

Sources

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Carpenter, Maud 1890s births 1967 deaths British theatre managers and producers Women theatre managers and producers People from Liverpool Officers of the Order of the British Empire Theatre people from Merseyside