Beryl May Jessie Toye, (1 May 1917 – 27 February 2010), known professionally as Wendy Toye, was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

dancer, stage and

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...

and actress.

Life and career

Toye was born in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. She initially worked as a dancer and choreographer both on stage and on film. She joined the Markova- Dolin Ballet Company as a soloist and was taken under the wing of

Dame Ninette de Valois Dame Ninette de Valois (born Edris Stannus; 6 June 1898 – 8 March 2001) was an Irish-born British dancer, teacher, choreographer, and director of classical ballet. Most notably, she danced professionally with Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, ...

. She was soon collaborating with the likes of directors

Jean Cocteau Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau (, , ; 5 July 1889 – 11 October 1963) was a French poet, playwright, novelist, designer, filmmaker, visual artist and critic. He was one of the foremost creatives of the su ...

and

Carol Reed Sir Carol Reed (30 December 1906 – 25 April 1976) was an English film director and producer, best known for ''Odd Man Out'' (1947), '' The Fallen Idol'' (1948), ''The Third Man'' (1949), and '' Oliver!'' (1968), for which he was awarded the ...

. She first appeared on film as a dancer in

Anthony Asquith Anthony William Landon Asquith (; 9 November 1902 – 20 February 1968) was an English film director. He collaborated successfully with playwright Terence Rattigan on ''The Winslow Boy'' (1948) and '' The Browning Version'' (1951), among oth ...

’s film ''

Dance Pretty Lady ''Dance Pretty Lady'' is a 1931 British drama film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Ann Casson, Carl Harbord, Michael Hogan, Moore Marriott and Flora Robson. It was based on the 1912 novel '' Carnival'' by Compton Mackenzie. The novel ...

'' in 1931. In 1936 she was working on the opera film ''

Pagliacci ''Pagliacci'' (; literal translation, "Clowns") is an Italian opera in a prologue and two acts, with music and libretto by Ruggero Leoncavallo. The opera tells the tale of Canio, actor and leader of a commedia dell'arte theatrical company, who m ...

'' with the director

Karl Grune Karl Grune (22 January 1890 – 2 October 1962) was an Austrian film director and writer who made many silent films in the 1920s. Grune was born into a Jewish familySiegbert Salomon Prawer, ''Between Two Worlds: The Jewish Presence in German ...

, who, caught up in technical matters, asked Toye to direct the actors for him.Backed by the Butter Board – then a Cannes premiere: rediscovering the films of Wendy Toye
, in ''The Guardian'', 18 November, 2022 Toye directed the original production of the musical '' Bless the Bride'' in 1947. Her debut film short as a director, ''

The Stranger Left No Card ''The Stranger Left No Card'' is a 1952 British short film directed by Wendy Toye. The film won the Best Fiction award at the 1953 Cannes Film Festival, where it was described as "a masterpiece" by Jean Cocteau. It marked the film debut of actor ...

'' (1952), won the Best Fictional Short Film prize at the 1953 Cannes Film Festival, while her Christmas-themed short ''On the Twelfth Day…'' (1955) received an Oscar nomination in the Best Short Subject category. She directed films from the early 1950s until the early 1980s. Toye also was an advisor to the Arts Council and lectured in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. She was attacked and robbed in her maisonette in Westminster on 27 November 1956. Two men stole jewellery and money. On 6 January 1958, she appeared as

Roy Plomley Francis Roy Plomley, ( ; 20 January 1914 – 28 May 1985) was an English radio broadcaster, producer, playwright and novelist. He is best remembered for devising the BBC Radio series ''Desert Island Discs'', which he hosted from its inception i ...

's guest on the

BBC Radio BBC Radio is an operational business division and service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a royal charter since 1927). The service provides national radio stations covering th ...

programme ''

Desert Island Discs ''Desert Island Discs'' is a radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It was first broadcast on the BBC Forces Programme on 29 January 1942. Each week a guest, called a " castaway" during the programme, is asked to choose eight recordings (usu ...

''. Her choices were wide-ranging, including Bach, Mahler and Lena Horne. She was the head of the jury at the 13th Berlin International Film Festival in 1963. Among the many charities supported by Toye were the Theatrical Guild (formerly the Theatrical Ladies' Guild), where she helped backstage and front-of-house staff, and became president, and the Actors' Charitable Trust, to which she was recruited by

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time'' magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and ...

, and of which she was vice president. Toye married Edward Selwyn Sharp in 1940; they divorced in 1950. Toye collaborated with the cartoonist and illustrator

Ronald Searle Ronald William Fordham Searle, CBE, RDI (3 March 1920 – 30 December 2011) was an English artist and satirical cartoonist, comics artist, sculptor, medal designer and illustrator. He is perhaps best remembered as the creator of St Trinian's S ...

on the stage play ''Wild Thyme'' (1955), and then on two films: ''On The Twelfth Day'' (1955) and '' The King’s Breakfast'' (1963). Searle designed the decor and costumes and painted the sets. Based on a poem by A A Milne, ''The King's Breakfast'', with music by

Ron Grainer Ronald Erle Grainer (11 August 1922 – 21 February 1981) was an Australian composer who worked for most of his professional career in the United Kingdom. He is mostly remembered for his television and film score music, especially the theme mus ...

, tells of a quest to find an appropriate spread for the royal bread. Initially sponsored by the British Butter Board, the film ended up having its premiere at Cannes. On its re-release in 2022, ''The Guardian'' descried it as "a half-hour banquet of uproarious slapstick, dance and mime, with pantomime sets and costumes". She was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977, and appointed a Commander of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(CBE) in 1992 for services to the arts. She was made an honorary D. Litt. in 1996 by the City University.''

Who's Who ''Who's Who'' (or ''Who is Who'') is the title of a number of reference publications, generally containing concise biography, biographical information on the prominent people of a country. The title has been adopted as an expression meaning a gr ...

2010'' Page 2316 Toye was the subject of '' This Is Your Life'' in 1991, when she was surprised by

Michael Aspel Michael Terence Aspel (born 12 January 1933) is an English retired television newsreader and host of programmes such as '' Crackerjack'', ''Aspel & Company'', ''Give Us a Clue'', '' This is Your Life'', '' Strange but True?'' and ''Antiques Ro ...

at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham. She died on 27 February 2010 at

Hillingdon Hospital Hillingdon Hospital is an NHS hospital in Pield Heath Road, Hillingdon, Greater London. It is one of two hospitals run by the Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the other being Mount Vernon Hospital. History The hospitals has its origi ...

Greater London Greater may refer to: *Greatness, the state of being great *Greater than, in inequality (mathematics), inequality *Greater (film), ''Greater'' (film), a 2016 American film *Greater (flamingo), the oldest flamingo on record *Greater (song), "Greate ...

. She refused to write or authorise a biography during her lifetime, in spite of encouragement by her friends and family. Her theatrical archive is mostly in the Wendy Toye Archive, V&A Theatre & Performance Department, THM/343 of the

Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and nam ...

, with some items in the

University of Bristol , mottoeng = earningpromotes one's innate power (from Horace, ''Ode 4.4'') , established = 1595 – Merchant Venturers School1876 – University College, Bristol1909 – received royal charter , type ...

Theatre Collection.

Selected work

This list is a collation from three biographical dictionaries, an obituary''

Debrett's Debrett's () is a British professional coaching company, publisher and authority on etiquette and behaviour, founded in 1769 with the publication of the first edition of ''The New Peerage''. The company takes its name from its founder, John Deb ...

People of Today'' 2010''The International Who's Who'' 2004 and the information web sites from some of the theatres.

Early career

* Produced a ballet on the colours of the rainbow at the

London Palladium The London Palladium () is a Grade II* West End theatre located on Argyll Street, London, in the famous area of Soho. The theatre holds 2,286 seats. Of the roster of stars who have played there, many have televised performances. Between 1955 an ...

when aged 10, 1927–28 * First professional appearance: Moth in ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'', Old Vic, April 1930Programme in Bristol University Theatre Collection * Winner, European Championship Solo Amateur competition at C. B. Cochrane's Charleston Ball at the Albert Hall, 1926

Dancer, choreographer and actress

* choreographer ''Mother Earth'' (Savoy), 1929 * Marigold (later Phoebe) & produced dances ''Toad of Toad Hall'', 1931–32 * danced and choreographed for Camargo Society, Sadler's Wells Ballet, Rambert, British Ballet, 1930s (early) * Danced in ''The Miracle'' (Lyceum Theatre), 1932 * Masked Dancer in ''Ballerina'' (Gaiety Theatre), 1933 * Member of

Ninette de Valois Dame Ninette de Valois (born Edris Stannus; 6 June 1898 – 8 March 2001) was an Irish-born British dancer, teacher, choreographer, and director of classical ballet. Most notably, she danced professionally with Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, ...

' original Vic-Wells ballet, principal dancer in ''The Golden Toy'' (Coliseum), 1934 * Toured with Anton Dolin's Ballet, 1934-1935 * Dancer in ''Tulip Time'' (Alhambra), 1935 * Touring as principal dancer and choreographer with Markova-Dolin Ballet, 1935 * ''Love and How to Cure It'' (Globe), 1937 * Choreographer for George Black's productions (including ''Black and Blue'', ''Black Velvet'', ''Black Vanities'', ''Strike a New Note'', ''Strike it Again''), 1937–44 * '' Gay Rosalinda'' (Palace Theatre), 1945-1948 * ''Follow the Girls'', 1945 * Principal Girl in pantomime ''Simple Simon'' (Birmingham), 1947 * Winnie Tate in ''Annie Get your Gun'' (London Coliseum), 1947 * Ballet-hoo de Wendy Toye (Paris), 1948 * Three's Company in ''Joyce Grenfell Requests the Pleasure'' (Fortune) (choreography), 1954

Stage director

London

* ''Big Ben'', ''Bless the Bride'', ''Tough at the Top'' (Adelphi for C.B. Cochrane), 1946 * ''And So to Bed (New)'', 1951 * ''Second Threshold'' (

Vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

), 1950s??? * ''Wild Thyme'' (Duke of York's), 1955 * ''Lady at the Wheel'' (Lyric, Hammersmith), 1958 * ''As You Like It'' (

Old Vic Old or OLD may refer to: Places *Old, Baranya, Hungary * Old, Northamptonshire, England *Old Street station, a railway and tube station in London (station code OLD) *OLD, IATA code for Old Town Municipal Airport and Seaplane Base, Old Town, Ma ...

), 1959 * ''Majority of One'' (Phoenix), 1960 * ''Virtue in Danger'' (

Mermaid In folklore, a mermaid is an aquatic creature with the head and upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish. Mermaids appear in the folklore of many cultures worldwide, including Europe, Asia, and Africa. Mermaids are sometimes asso ...

and Strand), 1963 * ''Robert & Elizabeth'' (Lyric), 1964 * ''On the Level'' (Saville), 1966 * ''Show Boat'' ( Adelphi), 1971 * ''She Stoops to Conquer'' (

Young Vic The Young Vic Theatre is a performing arts venue located on The Cut, near the South Bank, in the London Borough of Lambeth. The Young Vic was established by Frank Dunlop in 1970. Kwame Kwei-Armah has been Artistic Director since February 201 ...

), 1972 * ''Soldiers Tale'' (Young Vic & Edinburgh Festival), 1967 * ''The Great Waltz'' (

Drury Lane Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster. Notable landmarks ...

), 1970 * ''Cowardy Custard'' (Mermaid), 1972 * ''Stand and Deliver'' (Roundhouse), 1972 * ''The Englishman Amused'' (Young Vic), 1974 * ''Follow the Star'' (Westminster). 1976 * ''Oh Mr. Porter'' (Mermaid), 1977 * ''Colette'' (Comedy), 1980 * ''This Thing Called Love'' (Ambassadors), 1984 * ''Barnum'' (Victoria Palace) (assoc producer) 1985 * ''Singin' in the Rain'' (London Palladium) (assoc producer), 1983 * ''Get the Message'' (Molecule), 1987 * ''Ziegfeld'' (London Palladium), 1988 * ''Family and Friends'' (Sadler's Wells), 1988 * ''Till We Meet Again'' concert (Royal Festival Hall), 1989 * ''Captain Beaky's Heavens Up'' (Palace), 1990 * ''The Sound of Music'' (Sadler's Wells), 1992 * ''Under Their Hats'' (King's Head), 1994 * Gala (last night of old Sadler's Wells Theatre), 1996

Chichester Festival

* ''R loves J'', 1973 * ''The Confederacy'', 1974 * ''Follow the Star'', 1974 * ''Made in Heaven'', 1975 * ''Make Me a World'', 1976 * ''Miranda'', 1987

Watermill Theatre, Newbury

* ''Gingerbread Man'', 1981 * ''Songbook'', 1988 * ''Moll Flanders'', 1990 * ''The Drummer'', 1991 * ''See How They Run'', 1992 * ''The Anastasia File'', 1994 * '' Lloyd George Knew My Father'', 1995 * ''Warts and All'', ''Rogues to Riches'', 1996 * ''30 Not Out'', 1997

Other UK

* ''Boots with Strawberry Jam'' (Nottingham Playhouse), 1968 * ''Once More with Music'' (Theatre Royal, Brighton), 1976 * ''Barnum'' (Manchester Opera House) (assoc producer), 1984 * ''Laburnum Grove'' (Watford Palace), 1987 * ''Mrs. Dot'' (Watford Palace), 1988 * ''Cinderella'' (Watford Palace), 1989 * ''Penny Black'' (Wavendon), 1990 * ''Mrs. Pat's Profession'' (workshop with Cleo Laine), 1991

Unknown location

* ''Dance for Gods'', ''Conversations'' (??Stephenville), 1979 * Gala tribute to Joyce Grenfell, 1985

International

* ''Feu d'artifice'', Marigny Theatre, Paris (co-director and choreographer), date unknown * ''Peter Pan'', (Imperial, New York) (co-director and choreographer) 1950 * Shakespeare Quatercentenary Latin American tour, 1964 * ''Noel and Gertie'' (Princess Grace Theatre Monte Carlo), 1984 * ''Celimar'' (Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada), 1984 * ''Madwoman of Chaillot'' (Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada), 1985 * Torville & Dean Ice Show World Tour (assoc producer), 1985 * ''Kiss Me Kate'' (Aarhus & Copenhagen), 1986 * ''Unholy Trinity'' (Stephenville Festival), 1986 * ''When That I Was'' (Manitoba Theater Center), 1988 * ''Oh! Coward'' (Playhouse Hong Kong), 1989 * ''The Kingfisher'' (Vienna English Theatre), 1993 * ''The Sound of Music'' (Vienna English Theatre), 1993 * ''Under Their Hats'' (Vienna English Theatre), 1995

Operas

* ''The Seraglio'' (Bath Festival), 1967 * ''The Impresario'', ''Don Pasquale'' (Phoenix Opera), 1968 * ''The Mikado'' (Ankara), 1982 * ''Der Apotheker'', ''la Serva Padrona'' (Aix-en-Provence festival), 1991

Sadler's Wells Opera/ENO

* ''Bluebeard's Castle'', 1957 * ''The Telephone'', 1957 * ''Russalka'', 1959 * ''Die Fledermaus'', 1959 * ''Orpheus in the Underworld'', 1960 * ''La Vie Parisienne'', 1961 * ''The Italian Girl in Algiers'', 1968

ENO North

* ''La Cenerentola'', ''The Merry Widow'', 1979 * ''Orpheus in the Underworld'', 1981

TV

* ''Esmi Divided'', 1957 * ''Cliff in Scotland'', c. 1965 * ''Girls Wanted – Istanbul'', (BAFTA nomination) 1969 * ''Trial by Jury'', 1982 * ''Tales of the Unexpected'' 1982

Films

Actress * ''

'' (1931) * '' Invitation to the Waltz'' (1935) Director * ''

'' (1952) * '' The Teckman Mystery'' (1954) * ''On the Twelfth Day...'' (1955) * ''

Raising a Riot ''Raising a Riot'' is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Wendy Toye and starring Kenneth More, Shelagh Fraser and Mandy Miller about a naval officer who attempts to look after his three children in his wife's absence. It was shot at Shepperto ...

'' (1955) * '' All for Mary'' (1955) * ''

Three Cases of Murder ''Three Cases of Murder'' is a 1955 British horror omnibus film comprising three stories: "The Picture," "You Killed Elizabeth," and "Lord Mountdrago." Eamonn Andrews introduces each. Alan Badel appears in all three.John Hamilton, ''The British ...

'' (1955) * ''

True as a Turtle ''True as a Turtle'' is a 1957 British comedy film directed by Wendy Toye and starring John Gregson, Cecil Parker, June Thorburn and Keith Michell. In the film, a young couple embark on a voyage on a ketch named ''Turtle''. John Coates wrote t ...

'' (1957) * ''

We Joined the Navy ''We Joined the Navy'' is a 1962 British comedy film directed by Wendy Toye and starring Kenneth More, Lloyd Nolan, Joan O'Brien, Derek Fowlds, Graham Crowden, Esma Cannon and John Le Mesurier. Produced by Daniel M. Angel, it was based on th ...

'' (1962) * '' The King's Breakfast'' (1963)

References

External links

* *
University of Bristol Theatre Collection

''The King's Breakfast'' (1963)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toye, Wendy 1917 births 2010 deaths 20th-century English actresses Commanders of the Order of the British Empire English ballerinas English choreographers English film actresses English women film directors Actresses from London English theatre directors British opera directors Female opera directors Film directors from London Musicians from London