MALVERN HILLS DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY

‘THE MASTER’: NOEL COWARD AS ACTOR, WRITER AND PAINTER

Sir Noel Coward (1899-1973) wrote over fifty plays, many short stories, a novel, hundreds of songs (both music and lyrics) and was a witty, sometime moving, minor poet. He acted professionally from the age of ten. As a leisure activity he painted in the 1930s, first in watercolour and then, on Churchill’s advice, in oils and later gouache. After World War Two, he painted in England and Switzerland but his best and most vital work was done in Jamaica.

We shall trace Coward’s stage and film career, listen to excerpts from his songs and plays but also look at a number of his paintings. His friend and secretary, Cole Lesley, said “The countless hours Noel spent at the easel were amongst the most happy and carefree of his life”.

FRANCES HUGHES

Frances Hughes was 38 years in education, 18 as headteacher. Now a freelance lecturer at the National Portrait Gallery and for the National Trust. She is Secretary of Shakespeare Reading Society (founded 1875) Chairman of the Irving Society, and Chairman of the Henry Irving Foundation.