Mexborough and Swinton Times April 8, 1938
Mexborough Boy Gains Drama Award
“Discovarieties” Discovery
Silver Cup and Scholarship
Successful Visit To London
As a result of the “Discovarieties” competition organised in conjunction with this newspaper by the Elsecar Milton Players, a Mexborough boy, Denzil Ellis, on Saturday was offered a two years’ scholarship for free tuition in dramatic arts under the finest teachers in the country, awarded by the Incorporated London Academy of Music. He also won the Academy’s silver trophy offered in this section of the competition.
Off To London.
On Saturday the four artists from the drama section of the competition left Sheffield early in the morning for London, and after breakfasting on the train arrived at St. Pancras at 10-35 On arrival at the London Academy of Music, Mr. G. A. Dickens introduced them to Mr. Wilfred Foulis, the Governing Director, and Mr. G. Gordon Harvey, the Examinations Secretary. Subsequently the artists were examined by Mr. G. Campbell-Brown and Mr. G. Farnell, both well-known in the theatre world.
The examinations were carried out individually under full professional conditions, and commencing with the piece which they gave at Elsecar, each candidate went through a prepared repertoire. The examinations lasted nearly three hours, and Mr. Foulis after conferring with the examiners announced that the cup would be presented to Denzil Ellis, of Mexborough, who was thus selected as the artist “showing the greatest likelihood of winning success on stage or screen.” In addition, the Academy have granted him the scholarship described, and if he accepts this he will receive two years’ tuition in dramatic art in London, which should ultimately fit him for a place on the West End stage. He was congratulated on his success by officials and by the other competitors the result being a tribute to his teacher, Miss Constance Nichols, L.G.S.M. (Honours), of Mexborough.
Wonderful Ovation.
On Sunday afternoon, the successful Mexborough competitor received the trophy from Mr. Jevan Brandon-Thomas, famous West End producer, at a ceremony in the Kensington Kinema. He received a wonderful ovation from an audience of some 2,000 people. The ceremony speeches in which the Governing of the Academy paid tribute to the “South Yorkshire Times” and Express” for their generous support of the contest and to the Northern representative Academy, Mr. Dickens, for his efforts.
Glassworks’ Fitter
Denzil Ellis, the 15-year-old son of G. Ellis, a joiner, and Mrs. Ellis, Dryden Road, Mexborough, is employed as an apprentice fitter at the Swinton works of Messrs. Dale, Brown. He has always been interested in dramatic work, and often took part in productions at the Adwick Road School. He took up the study of elocution two and three years ago. He has won a Silver Medal at Mexborough Musical Festival, a bronze medal an first prize at Armthorpe, and other award
Denzil told a “Times” reporter had thoroughly enjoyed his outing at the week-end, under the auspices of Mr. Dickens. His pieces on afternoon were an extract from Noel Coward and James Elroy Flecker. Denzil ‘s is keen to go on the stage; he is most desirous of taking part in high-class productions of the modern heavy drama type.
The family have not yet decided they will be able to accept the scholarship. At the moment the task of providing Denzil with funds to live in London is proving a problem but friends of the family are hoping they will be able to arrange it. Mrs. Ellis said how very grateful they were to the “South Yorkshire Times” and “Express” series organising the competition in conjunction with Milton players
“if it had not been for this competition” she said, “it is certain that he would not have this excellent opportunity so soon.”