Marie Lloyd commemoration: Friday 7th October 2022

“If you fancy it …”

The British Music Hall Society will be commemorating and celebrating the life of Marie Lloyd, Queen of Comedy on 7^th October 2022, 100 years to the day since she took her final curtain and in the same church where her funeral was held.

Marie Lloyd was a titan of the Victorian Music Hall and at one point was paid more than any other performer in the country. Originally from Hoxton, she never forgot her roots and was extremely generous to those less fortunate than herself.

So popular was she that when she died almost 100,000 people from all walks of life lined the streets to bid her farewell; it was believed that it was the biggest funeral London had seen since the death of Wellington.

The memorial service will involve participants from the worlds of showbusiness and academia who have one thing in common – a love and respect for the greatest Music Hall star of her generation. Some of Ms Lloyd’s descendants will also be in attendance. Parts of the original funeral service will be augmented (of course) with a few music hall songs.

Date:  Friday 7^th October
Time:  2.00pm – 3.00pm
Venue:  St Luke’s Church, Kidderpore Avenue, Hampstead NW3 7SU

For further information: contact@britishmusichallsociety.com 

Miss Marie Lloyd/British Music Hall Society Archive

Notes to editors: 

• The British Music Hall Society, a registered charity, was founded in 1963 to remember and celebrate Music Hall & Variety. The Society presents events, shows, talks, publishes the quarterly journal The Call Boy and has an extensive archive. 
• The British Music Hall Society Twitter handle is: @musichallsoc 
• Facebook – British Music Hall Society. 
• The British Music Hall Society’s website can be found at www.britishmusichallsociety.com 

“Marie Lloyd Stole My Life” – Scandal, Suffrage & Song!

Adultery, betrayal, age discrimination, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, press intrusion, scandal, robbery…and a rescue at sea. All set against the background of the Victorian Music Hall.

Merry Nelly Power was a real life, trailblazing performer of the 19th century, a male impersonator who struck an early blow for women’s rights by owning her own properties and headlining at all of the major theatres. Until her fame – and her most famous song – were usurped by the young Marie Lloyd. In the centenary year of Marie Lloyd’s death, Blue Fire Theatre Co. tells the story of how the “Queen of the Music Hall” came to fame at the expense of poor Nelly Power. “Marie Lloyd Stole My Life” tells the unglamorous side of show business in Victorian London through the subversive lens of Music Hall.

Written by JJ Leppink and starring BMHS Committee member Lottie Walker as Nelly Power. Catch the play at the following venues over the next few weeks:

September 29th – The Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich

October 5th & 6th – The Rosemary Branch, Islington

October 15th – The Coach House, Malvern (2 shows – matinee + evening)

October 22nd – Henstridge Village Hall, Somerset

You can book tickets for all of these venues here

Lottie Walker as Nelly Power (Bluefire Theatre Co.)

October is Marie Lloyd Month. Two BMHS events planned.

October 2022 marks 100 years since the death of the Music Hall ‘great’, Marie Lloyd. The British Music Hall Society will be commemorating Marie with 2 events:

– A service at St Luke’s Church, Kidderpore Avenue, Hampstead NW3 7SU at 2pm on Friday 7th October 2022. This will be exactly 100 years to the day of her death and in the church where her funeral was held. Attending will be people from show business, academia and some of her descendants. Parts of the original funeral service will be augmented (of course) with a few music hall songs.

– Christine Padwick and Alison Young will be giving a version of the talk that they delivered at the V&A in 2020 ‘Marie Lloyd: Queen of the Halls’ at 7.30pm on Thursday 20th October at the Water Rats, 328 Grays Inn Road WC1X 8BZ. Tickets are available here or you can just turn up & pay at the door: £8 members, £12 otherwise.

Marie Lloyd – BMHS Archive