It's not known how or when Rita Webb first started to
act, but it was probably during the late 1930's doing variety and
Music Hall. She did tours around London and England from 1939 to 1949
in various shows and by 1949 was involved with Unity theatre and other
theatre companies.
In 1949 she played Aunt Helen in 'The Townshends' a Unity production.
The times review of 29th April wrote "Miss Rita Webb as
the sister who long ago taught her husband his place, is racily funny".
Another Unity show was "Where's That Bomb" also in
1949 (Playing the landlady Mrs Judd). She played in many other productions
among them "Inpure Thoughts", "The Winslow
Boy" (as the maid) "Flowers in the Living"
(as Miss Shadwell), "Robert's Wife" (as Mother) "Pygmalion"
and "The Lady Mislaid". Also shows at the Amersham
Theatre company in London were home to many productions in the late
40's and early 50's. |
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By the mid 50's Rita was more active in film and Television
than on stage, she did a tour with Fred Emney in May 1955 (she
also appeared on his tv show several times) another stage performance
came in 1957, appearing in the first act with Fanny Carby as cleaners.
She did a stint at The Royal Court in "A Resounding Tinkle"
(Rita would also appear in the TV version of the play a few years
later) |
| The sixties saw very little stage action from Rita,
she was highly succesful on the Arthur Haynes tv show and did
a summer season at Blackpool with his show in1966, the press were
out in force for this one and Rita got some good reviews and press
coverage around this time. No doubt she did other shows for charity
and the like but up to now no imformation has come my way. |
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The 70's and beyond were almost like the sixties where
stage activity was concerned, although Rita had great critical aclaim
in Stratford Easts production of "The Londoners"
Rita played Granny Miggs and even got to sing in this show, The Daily
mail commented "The old ones are summed up in Rita Webb's
indomitable old granny, her hennaed hair bristling with combs, who
has walked out of her new flat, because if you die twenty storey's
up, they have to stand your coffin on it's head to get it down in
the lift. Life for her has been 'a lazy git of a husband and a load
of blood-sucking kids.' she is real and she gives the show what truth
it has. She also did more charity work along with old peoples
homes. With Jeffie on Banjo she would give the old folk the beauty
of her wonderful voice! Another show she did was "Nuts"
singing "No one loves a fairy when she's 50" performed in
June 1973 and a 3 night charity gala in 1974 alongside Gordon Honeycomb.
They could often be seen at partys doing a comedy act togehter, according
to Rita's agent Peter Campbell. |
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Where's That Bomb-7th Jan 1949, Unity theatre as Mrs Judd, Landlady
The Townshend-April 1949 Unity Theatre Production as Aunt Helen
Inpure Thoughts-1949
The Winslow Boy-as Maid, 1949
Pygmalion-as Maid
The Corn Is Green-August 1950
Flowers In The Living-as Miss Shadwell,1950
Robert's Wife-as Mother, 1950
The Lady Mislaid-Amersham Playhouse April 1951
Emney Enterprises-The Royal, Portsmouth -1955(opened 31st
Jan 1955 (12 week Tour)
Emney Enterprises-Brighton Hippodrome (Feb)
Emney Enterprises-Finsbury Park Empire,
(from Monday 14th Feb 1955) Played 1 week
Emney Enterprises-Birmingham Hippodrome (Feb)
Emney Enterprises-Chiswick Empire (28th Feb?)
Emney Enterprises-Reading Palace (9th May?)
A Resounding Tinkle-Royal Court, Nov1957, as First Cleaner (Act1)
with Fanny Carby as 2nd cleaner
The Arthur Haynes Show-1966 Summer season, Blackpool, Winter
Gardens Pavilion
(Playing Mother in 3rd act "The Legion's last Stand"
by Frank Muir & Denis Norden)
Unity Gala Performance-Sunday 2nd July 1967 (Al Jeffrey also
appeared)
The Londoners-27th March1972, Stratford East as The Grannie Miggs
63 performances
Hinge and Bracket Vs Rita Webb-Theatre Royal, Stratford,
E15-22nd March 1973
Nuts-June 1973, Theatre Royal, Stratford East
Mrs Shufflewick's Night Under The Stars-17-19th Jan
1974, Theatre Royal, Stratford E15
Nuts-18-20 June 1974, Theatre Royal, 3 night charity gala
One Of Us A Celebration For Mike Pratt -Aldwych, 8th
Aug 1976
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Photos copyright to Geraldine Lewis
Additional Information and materials supplied by Aaron Smith
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