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Viola Compton
Viola Compton
Viola Compton
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Viola Maud Compton–Mackenzie (26 November 1886 – 7 April 1971), known as Viola Compton, was an English film actress.[1] Born in Fulham, London, she was the second of three siblings born to the actors Edward Compton and Virginia Frances Bateman. Her younger brother was writer Compton Mackenzie and her younger sister was actress Fay Compton. She died in Birchington-on-Sea, Kent.

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Viola Compton

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''Viola Compton'' is an English actress known for her contributions to British theatre and supporting roles in early sound films during the 1930s. Born into a prominent theatrical family, she appeared on stage from childhood and later transitioned to cinema, with notable credits including ''The Good Companions'' (1933), ''Looking on the Bright Side'' (1932), and ''The Black Hand Gang'' (1929). Viola Maud Compton Mackenzie was born in 1886 in London, the daughter of actors Edward Compton and Virginia Frances Bateman, and sister to actress Fay Compton and novelist Compton Mackenzie. She made her stage debut at age seven in 1893 and later performed in various West End productions, including ''The School for Scandal'' and ''Show Boat''. From 1920 to 1923, she co-managed the Repertory Theatre in Nottingham with her sister Ellen, taking on leading roles during that period. Compton appeared in approximately twenty films, primarily in character parts, throughout the late 1920s and 1930s. She was married to Henry J. Crocker from 1911 until his death in 1937, with whom she had two children. She died on April 7, 1971, in Birchington-on-Sea, Kent.

Early life and family

Birth and childhood

Viola Compton was born in 1886 in Fulham, London, England. She grew up in a theatrical household as the daughter of prominent actors Edward Compton and Virginia Frances Bateman. Her childhood in London was immersed in the world of the stage due to her family's professional involvement in theatre. From an early age, Compton had exposure to acting through her parents' company. She made her first stage appearance at age 7 in 1893, playing the role of Charles in Sydney Carton with the family troupe. This early involvement reflected the pervasive influence of her theatrical family environment during her formative years.

Theatrical family background

Viola Compton was born into a prominent British theatrical family with a legacy spanning multiple generations. Her parents were the actor and producer Edward Compton and the actress and producer Virginia Frances Bateman. She was the granddaughter of the noted actor Henry Compton and the actress Emmeline Montague. Her siblings included the actress Fay Compton, the actor Francis Compton, and the writer Sir Compton Mackenzie. Through her sister Fay, Viola Compton was the aunt of the actor Anthony Pelissier and the great-aunt of the actress Tracy Reed.

Stage career

Early stage roles and debut

Viola Compton began her stage career at a remarkably young age, making her professional debut in 1893 at seven years old when she played the role of Charles in Sydney Carton with her parents' acting company. This early opportunity arose from her immersion in a theatrical family environment that provided access to the stage from childhood. Her London stage debut followed in 1907, when she appeared in The 18th Century. In the subsequent years, Compton took on roles in several notable productions, including The School for Scandal and An Impudent Comedian. These early engagements established her presence in the British theatre scene during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, building on her initial juvenile performance.

Repertory theatre management

Viola Compton jointly managed the Repertory Theatre, Nottingham, with her sister Ellen Compton from 1920 to 1923. The theatre was established under the lesseeship of their mother, Virginia Compton (Mrs. Edward Compton), who launched it as a repertory company following the family's long-standing Compton Comedy Company tradition. This management role built on Viola Compton's prior experience in stage performances with the family company. During her tenure as co-manager, Viola Compton appeared in numerous lead roles across the theatre's productions, contributing significantly to both its artistic direction and repertory programming. The company staged a variety of works, including Shakespearean plays; for example, in spring 1921, it presented a Shakespeare Birthday Festival featuring Measure for Measure, produced by W. G. Fay in association with Viola Compton and H. Worrall-Thompson. Her involvement encompassed both managerial responsibilities and prominent on-stage performances throughout the three-year period.

Later stage appearances

In the years following her management of the Repertory Theatre in Nottingham from 1920 to 1923, Viola Compton resumed her performing career with appearances in several notable stage productions. She played Parthy Ann Hawks in the London production of Show Boat at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, which opened on May 3, 1928, and ran for 350 performances. In 1929, Compton was part of the principal cast in Follow Through, the inaugural production at the newly opened Dominion Theatre in London, premiering on October 3, 1929, and running for 148 performances. Her later stage credits also included roles in The Good Companions, Rise and Shine, and Alice in Wonderland. She further appeared in the musical play Gay Hussar, which had its first performance at the Palace Theatre in Manchester on September 30, 1933.

Film career

Film roles and contributions

Viola Compton transitioned from her established stage career to occasional film work, appearing in films between 1917 and 1938, including one American silent film and primarily British productions thereafter. Her screen debut came in the American silent film Polly of the Circus (1917), where she played Jane, the Widow. She returned to film in the sound era with supporting and minor roles, beginning with The Black Hand Gang (1929) as Mater. In Looking on the Bright Side (1932), she portrayed Sergeant, followed by Mrs. Joe Brundit in The Good Companions (1933). Her later credits included The Man in the Mirror (1936) and The Last Journey (1935), along with parts in Excess Baggage, The Shadow, and Dark World. Compton's filmography consists of approximately 17 credits, mostly in supporting capacities within British cinema, and she did not achieve major stardom on screen.

Personal life

Marriage and children

Viola Compton married Henry J. Crocker in 1911 in Kensington, London. The marriage endured until Crocker's death on 12 October 1937. The couple had two sons, Nicholas John Crocker and John Valentine Crocker.

Death

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