Helen Gilliland facts for kids
Helen Gilliland (born January 31, 1897 – died November 24, 1942) was a talented actress and singer from Northern Ireland. She was known for her beautiful soprano voice. A soprano is a singer who can sing very high notes. Helen performed in many famous operas by Gilbert and Sullivan. She also starred in musical comedies during the 1920s and 1930s. Sadly, she passed away when the ship she was on was attacked during a war.
Contents
Helen's Early Life and Training
Helen Gilliland was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on January 31, 1897. Her father, John Gilliland, worked at a bank. Helen went to Victoria College in Belfast for her schooling. Later, she moved to London to study music. She attended the Royal College of Music, a famous school for performers.
Starting Her Singing Career
Helen began her stage career in July 1917. She joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, a well-known group that performed operas. She quickly became a "principal soprano." This means she sang the main female roles.
Helen performed in several popular Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Some of her roles included:
- Aline in The Sorcerer
- Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance
- Phyllis in Iolanthe
- Yum-Yum in The Mikado
- Casilda in The Gondoliers
She left the D'Oyly Carte company in June 1919. However, she returned just a few months later in September 1919. She performed the same roles (except Mabel) for a special season in London. This lasted for 18 weeks at the Princes Theatre.
Helen returned to D'Oyly Carte one last time from October 1921 to April 1922. During this period, she played new roles. These included Patience in Patience and Elsie Maynard in The Yeomen of the Guard.
Moving to Musical Comedies
After her time with D'Oyly Carte, Helen wanted to try new things. In April 1922, she started performing in musical comedies. These shows combine singing, acting, and dancing. She appeared in many London theatres.
Some of the musical comedies and operettas she starred in were:
- Round in 50 (1922)
- The Cousin from Nowhere (1923)
- Katinka (1923)
- Stop Flirting (1923)
- Lilac Time (1924)
- Castles in the Air (1927)
- Princess Charming (1927)
- Lady Mary (1928), which was written just for her!
In 1928, Helen traveled to the United States. She performed in New York City at the Shubert Theatre. She also appeared in other popular shows like Bitter Sweet and The Merry Widow.
Later Career and War Efforts
When Helen returned to England, she continued to perform. She was in The Song of the Drum in 1931. She also appeared in Nina Rosa later that year. For the next six years, she performed in many different types of shows. These included musical comedies, variety shows, and pantomime roles.
Helen also had one film role. She appeared in the movie The Storm in 1938.
During the Second World War, Helen wanted to help. She joined the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA). This group provided entertainment for British troops. She toured India to perform for the soldiers. In November 1942, she was traveling to Africa for another ENSA show. Sadly, the ship she was on was attacked by the Japanese Navy. The ship sank, and no one survived. Helen Gilliland was a brave performer who dedicated her talents to entertaining others, even during wartime.
