James Richard Gregson

The playwright James Richard Gregson – Dick – was born at Mill Lane, Brighouse [2nd April 1889], the son of Charles Gregson.

He developed an interest in the theatre when his father gave him 3d to go, on condition that James tell him all about the play.

He worked as a mill worker in Brighouse, a railway clerk, a cost clerk for Simpson Fawcett & Company, a Leeds firm  making prams and toys, and a bricklayer's labourer

In his spare time, he was a playwright, journalist & broadcaster. Many of his plays had a Yorkshire setting.

He had a drama group – the Yorkshire Radio Players – based in Leeds.

His works include

Plays

• Actors are come hither

• The Adamson Affair – a full-length play

• Borrowed Likeness – a one-act play

• Buttons – a one-act play

• The Devil a Saint – a full-length play first produced 1928/1929

• A Democrat from Debrett – a full-length play first produced 1934/1935

• A Family Fugue – a full-length play

• Five Quid Pro Quo – a one-act play

• High Dudgeon – a one-act play

• Let's Talk of Wills – a one-act play

• Liddy – a one-act play which is considered to be his finest work

• Mate in Two – a one-act play

• Melchisedek – a one-act play

• Morocco Calf – a one-act play

• Out of Bondage – a full-length play

• Portrait of a Lady – a one-act play

• The Rochdale Pioneers – a one-act play

• Robert Owen: A dramatic biography – a full-length play

• The Runaway Princess – first produced 1929/1930

• St Mary Ellen – the Lord Chamberlain banned the play a week before it was due to premiere at the Leeds Civic Theatre in February 1930. His wife was due to play the title rôle

• Sar' Alice – a full-length play

• Sister Anne – a one-act play

• Storm in Port – a one-act play

• T' Marsdens – a full-length play first produced at the Everyman Theatre, Hampstead [1923/1924]

• Tragedy without Tears – a one-act play

• The Way of an Angel – a one-act play

• Young Imeson – a full-length play first produced 1918/1920

• Youth Disposes – a one-act play

• A large number of plays, operas, sketched and pantomimes produced in Leeds and Huddersfield
• Novel

  • Melody on Moorside [1931]

On 31st January 1912, he married Florence A. Hine [1886-19??] at St John's, Deansgate, Manchester.

Children:

1. Joan [1919-1928]
2. Florence (Jane) [1913-1993]

He died in London [1981, aged 92].

A painting of Gregson by Huddersfield artist, John Richardson Gauld [1927], has been displayed at Brighouse Art Gallery

See The Autobiography of James Gregson and Mrs Bandmann-Palmer

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