Shelah Richards facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shelah Richards
Born	Shelah Geraldine Richards 23 May 1903 Dublin, Ireland
Died	19 January 1985
Known for	Actress, producer

Shelah Geraldine Richards (born May 23, 1903 – died January 19, 1985) was a very talented Irish woman. She was an actress, a manager, a director, and a producer. Shelah Richards helped shape Irish theatre and television for many years.

Early Life and Family

Shelah Geraldine Richards was born in Dublin, Ireland, on May 23, 1903. Her father, John William Richards, was a lawyer. Her mother, Adelaide Roper, was a suffragist. This means her mother fought for women to have the right to vote. She even chained herself to railings in a park to protest!

Shelah went to school at Alexandra College in Dublin. After that, she studied at a special finishing school in Paris. Even though her family wasn't directly involved in the arts, her godmother, Beatrice Elvery, was an artist. Shelah often went to art gatherings with her parents at her godmother's house. It was there, at just 16 years old, that she met the famous writer W.B. Yeats. Shelah's niece, Geraldine Fitzgerald, also became a very famous Irish actress.

A Career on Stage

Shelah Richards started her acting journey with the Dublin drama league. One day, she got a big chance when she was asked to quickly replace another actress, Eileen Crowe. She took on the role of Mary Boyle in the play Juno and the Paycock at the famous Abbey Theatre.

In 1926, Shelah got another important role. She played Nora Clithero in The Plough and the Stars. This play caused a lot of strong reactions from the audience. Because of the protests, Shelah even needed police protection while the play was running! Shelah also took on a challenging lead role in The Player Queen by W.B. Yeats. No one had performed this part since the famous actress Maire O'Neill made it her own.

Shelah continued to play lead roles at the Abbey Theatre. But in 1926, she also started to direct plays, showing her talent behind the scenes.

Life and Work in the 1930s

On December 28, 1928, Shelah married the playwright Denis Johnston in Dublin. She traveled to the United States with the Abbey players in 1932. She also toured with the Irish Players in the mid-1930s.

In 1938, Shelah acted in a play called Spring Meeting by Molly Keane. This play took her all the way to Broadway in New York City. While she was performing there, World War II started in Europe. She was advised to stay in the United States. However, Shelah had two children by then: her son Micheal, who became a producer, and her daughter Jennifer Johnston, who became a novelist. So, Shelah decided to return to Dublin.

Back in Dublin, Shelah ran her own theatre company. She worked with Nigel Heseltine at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin. Her marriage to Denis Johnston ended in 1945.

Shelah then took on a new challenge: leading the Abbey School of Acting. She worked with talented designers like Louis le Brocquy there. Shelah also brought the famous mime artist Marcel Marceau to Dublin for the very first time. She continued to act and even had some roles in movies.

Television Pioneer

In 1961, Ireland launched its first television service, called Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). Shelah Richards was one of the very first producers for the new station. She was one of only a few women working in this new field at the time.

Shelah directed the first Irish play ever shown during RTÉ's opening week. She was also nominated for a Best Actress award for her role in another TV show. Shelah worked as a producer on many different types of programs for RTÉ. These included documentaries, popular soap operas like Tolka Row and The Riordans, and even religious shows. She also produced TV versions of famous plays, such as Denis Johnston's 'The Moon on the Yellow River', George Bernard Shaw's 'Arms and the Man', and J.M. Synge's 'Riders to the Sea'.

Later Years and Legacy

Shelah Richards retired from her career at RTÉ in the early 1970s. However, she continued to work hard to raise money for the Gate Theatre through a special society.

In 1983, when Shelah turned 80, the Abbey Theatre threw a big party for her. They even performed a special song called "Nora" from The Plough and the Stars. Shelah was the last living member of the original cast from that famous 1926 play. The same song was played again at her funeral.

Shelah Richards passed away in Ballybrack, County Dublin, on January 19, 1985. Her funeral was held in St. Anne's Church in Dublin, and she was cremated in Glasnevin. Shelah Richards left a lasting mark on Irish theatre and television.