Sheila Mary Helpman - family scrapbooks and programs, 1922-1980

MLMSS 6734/Boxes 1X-7X
MLMSS 6734/Box 8

fonds

1922 - 1980

Textual Records, Clippings

402423

0.42 metres of textual material (1 box, 7 outsize boxes)
Textual Records
Clippings
Textual Records - (printed)

Sheila Mary Helpman (1916-1994), actress, was born on 26 March 1916, daughter of James Murray Helpman and Mary Helpman. She made her theatre debut in Adelaide at the age of five when she was chosen to perform in a J C Williamson production of Eyes of Youth, and throughout her childhood performed numerous other roles. Educated at Presbyterian Ladies College, Adelaide, she spent two years in Melbourne with Gregory McMahon's Repertory Company after leaving school. She toured Britain in the 1930s and 1940s, and returned there in 1953 to play in a farce, Separate Rooms, before appearing in review at Sydney's Phillip Street Theatre. She retired from the stage in 1955 to care for her elderly mother, but again made stage and television appearances in the 1970s, after her mother's death. Probably her greatest popular success was in the acclaimed Australian film The Getting of Wisdom, in which she played the malevolent headmistress Mrs. Gurley. She made her last stage appearance at a Stratford Festival Season in Ontario, Canada in 1988, and died in St Vincent's Private Hospital, Sydney on 19 July 1994. Sheila Mary Helpman was a member of a well-known theatrical family. She was the sister of the late Sir Robert Helpmann (who added an 'n' to the family surname), and of the late Max Helpman, who pursued a career as an actor and manager in Canada and Britain.

I. SCRAPBOOKS
1922-1979; 'Sheila Helpman'. (Name handwritten inside front cover reads 'Sheila Helpman'. Name printed on label on front cover reads 'Sheila Helpmann'. Includes newscuttings, programs, photographs, correspondence and telegrams. Correspondents include Emelie Polini and Gladys Moncrieff. (Call No.: MLMSS 6734/1X)
1962-1977; 'Max Helpmann'. Includes photographs, newscuttings and programs. (Call No.: MLMSS 6734/2X)
1964-1979; 'Max Helpmann'. Includes photographs, newscuttings, and congratulatory correspondence re Max Helpman's association with Stratford Festival Company of Canada. (Call No.: MLMSS 6734/2X)
1933-1959; 'Robert Helpmann'. Includes newscuttings, telegrams, annotated program and photograph. (Call No.: MLMSS 6734/3X)
1954-1965; 'Robert Helpmann'. Includes newscuttings for Old Vic Company's 1955 Australian tour and letter from Katharine Hepburn to Mrs. Mary Helpman and Sheila Helpman. (Call No.: MLMSS 6734/4X)
1963-1979; 'Robert Helpmann'. (Call No.: MLMSS 6734/5X)
1965-1969; 1974; 'Helpmann'. Includes newscuttings covering Robert Helpmann's career during this period. (Call No.: MLMSS 6734/6X)
1968-1970; 'Helpmann'. Adelaide Festival of Arts. Don Q'. (Call No.: MLMSS 6734/7X)

II. PROGRAMS.
1948-1954; Programs, Sadlers Wells Ballet and The English Opera Group. (Call No.: MLMSS 6734/8)
1955-1963; Programs, including The Old Vic Company's Australian Tour 1955 and The Royal Ballet Australian Tour 1959. (Call No.: MLMSS 6734/8)
1964-1969; Programs, The Australian Ballet's International Tour 1965 and other Australian Ballet performances. Also includes copy of Masque Magazine, August 1968 and booklet The Stratford Festival Story, 1953-1965. (Call No.: MLMSS 6734/8)
1970-1980; Programs, The Australian Ballet and The Royal Ballet. (Call No.: MLMSS 6734/8)