Prentice, Herbert M, 1890-

Herbert M. Prentice, British producer, director and designer, staged hundreds of plays during his career including many first productions as well as popular revivals.

His focus was on well known playwrights of his time including James Bridie, Noel Coward, St. John Ervine, Ian Hay, Frederick Lonsdale, W. Somerset Maugham, A. A. Milne, Eugene O'Neill, J. B. Priestley, George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde. He began his career in 1918 at the Little Repertory Theatre in Sheffield and was associated with the Sheffield Repertory Company, the Festival Theatre, Cambridge and the Repertory Theatre, Northampton before being hired as producer by Sir Barry Jackson for the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1932. He was at the Birmingham until 1940 and staged many first productions there. During this period he also produced plays at the Malvern Festivals (1934-1937) including SAINT JOAN with Wendy Hiller on the occasion of George Bernard Shaw's 80th birthday. His first London production was ONCE IN A LIFETIME in 1933. In the 1940s and early 1950s he staged plays at the Sheffield, Southport, Stratford-on-Avon, Birmingham, the Civic Theatre at Chesterfield and the Pitlochry Festival. Prior to his tenure at the Birmingham Rep., Prentice designed most of the settings for his productions. He also wrote a few of the stage adaptations he produced, including one for ALICE IN WONDERLAND.

From the description of Herbert M. Prentice papers, 1925-1960. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122517917

Herbert M. Prentice, British producer, director and designer staged hundreds of plays during his career including many first productions as well as popular revivals. His focus was on well known playwrights of his time including James Bridie, Noel Coward, St. John G. Ervine, Ian Hay, Frederick Lonsdale, W. Somerset Maugham, A.A. Milne, Eugene O'Neill, J. B. Priestley, George Bernard Shaw, and Oscar Wilde .

His first production was The Silver Box at the Little Repertory Theatre in Sheffield in 1918. He formed the Sheffield Repertory Company and directed plays there for seven years. He was then with the Festival Theatre, Cambridge and the Repertory Theatre, Northampton before being hired as producer by Sir Barry Jackson for the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1932. He was at the Birmingham until 1940 and staged many first productions there including The Adding Machine, The Brontes of Haworth Parsonage and 1066 and All That . His first London production was Once in a Lifetime in 1933. During this period he also produced plays at the Malvern Festivals (1934-1937) including Saint Joan with Wendy Hiller on the occasion of George Bernard Shaw's 80th birthday.

In the 1940s and 1950s Prentice staged plays at the Sheffield, Southport Repertory Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon, Birmingham, the Civic Theatre at Chesterfield and the Pitlochry Festival. Prior to his tenure at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Prentice designed most of the settings for his productions. He also wrote a few of the stage adaptations he produced, including one for Alice in Wonderland .

From the guide to the Herbert M. Prentice papers, 1925-1960, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)