Marjorie Bassett—World Traveller and Actress.

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 33, 22 February 1935, Page 12

Marjorie Bassett—World Traveller and Actress.

MiSs MARJORIE BASSETT, the clever actress and stage producer, who has been broadcasting plays from 8YA for the last two years, and who will be remembered: by listeners for her latest production-the morality play, "Wyeryman’-is a young Christchurch girl. Miss Bassett’s family sailed for Edinburgh some 15 years ago and stayed there two years, and whilst her brother studied. medicine Miss Bassett studied dramatic art for five years. Later she went to London and entered the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, spending al-

together nine years in the metropolis. Finishing at the Academy, she rehearsed with Sir John Martin Harvey, and left for Canada for a six months’ tour. This was a wonderful experience, the hospitality of the Canadians being marvellous, and the company played in all the big towns right up to Vancouver and back, in such plays ae "The, Only Way," "Richard the Third,’ | Maeterlinck’s "Burgomaster of Stilemonde," "The Cigarette Maker’s Romance," and "David Garrick". When she got back to London her spare time was taken up in posing for W. H. Margetson, the famous watercolour artist, known the world over for his famous "The Sea Hath Its Pearls." Miss Bassett was appearing at the same time in the play, "Coward," a production concerning "‘shirkers’ during the war. She later went on a tour of Hngland, playing the part of Gertrude Twine in ‘Rookery Nook,’ produced by Tom Wallis, and in the autumn again joined Sir John Martin Harvey’s company. A’. second trip to Canada eventuated, and was a replica of the first, the company this time playing in Sabatini’s "Scara-. mouche," and Henry Irving’s great play, "Tyons’ Mail." She studied the altered conditions arising from the depression and watched the growth of repertory theatres in HEngland-not as we know them in New Zealand but the professional London companies which once toured England, and afterwards stationed themselves in the big. towns. producing plays of a high standard. Mise Bassett brought a little bit-of London-which she "wag loathe to leave-back* with her, in the form of a canary. This lovely songster flew into her flat in London, hungry and tired. and has been with her for seven years. New Zealand listeners are now reaping the benefit of Miss Bassett’s fourteen years abroad, and, reflecting her thorough: training in such .a famous school. she leaves nothing to chance in her productions, and considers that raq plays should be rehearsed as thorough as stage productions, and have as few characters ag possible. Miss Bassett now teaches Speecheraft at "Rangi-Ruru," in Christchurch. ‘