Pearl Prescod
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Comment: Probably notable - quite a few newspaper mentions for both her work and her activism KylieTastic (talk) 11:32, 23 June 2020 (UTC)
- Comment: Requires significant coverage in multiple independent reliable sources to show notability KylieTastic (talk) 12:46, 22 June 2020 (UTC)
Pearl Prescod | |
|---|---|
| Born | Pearl Priscilla Prescod 1920 Tobago |
| Died | 25 June 1966 (aged 45/46) Kensington, London |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1954-66 |
| Children | Colin Prescod |
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Pearl Priscilla Prescod (1920 - 25 June 1966[1][2][3]), was a Tobagan actress and singer. She one of the earliest Caribbean entertainers to appear on British television and was the first Black woman to appear at London's National Theatre.[4]
Prescod arrived in Britain in the early 1950s and resided in Notting Hill, London.[5] During her time in Britain, Prescod was casted in numerous television roles and theatre productions, and was active in the anti-racism struggle in London in the late 1950s and early 60s.[6] Prescod helped co-ordinate London's first Caribbean Carnival with her close friend Claudia Jones.[7] The first Carnival took place in St Pancras Town Hall in January 1959.
Career
Pearl Prescod was a trained classical singer[8] and had aspirations to pursue a classical music education in England.[9] She arrived in Britain in the early 1950s after winning a musical scholarship to Guildhall School of Music[10].
In 1954, Prescod was casted in Barry Reckford's first play Della[11]. The play also starred Cleo Laine, Nadia Cattouse and Lloyd Reckord.
In 1955, the secretary of the West India Committee in London helped Prescod secure a job as a switchboard operator in his office and an audition at the BBC. Prescod successfully procured a number of BBC contracts and landed many television roles and plays over the years.[9]
During her stage career, Prescod was a member of the National Theatre Company[12][13] and was casted as Tituba in the 1965 production of The Crucible[14]. She received wide praise for her performance.
Death
Pearl Prescod died on 25th June 1966[15] in Kensington, England and is survived by her son Colin Prescod[16], sociologist and Trustee of the Institute of Race Relations.
Legacy
Pearl Prescod is the subject of a chapter written by Obi B. Egbuna, the Nigerian-born novelist, playwright and political activist, in his non-ficton work titled Black Candle at Christmas. Egbuna credited Prescod as his "literary Godmother".[17]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | A Man from the Sun | Cast member | TV Movie |
| 1957 | The Buccaneers | Nanny Macao | TV Series |
| 1958 | Storm Over Jamaica | Mrs. Morgan | |
| 1958 | Television Playwright | Maisie | |
| 1958 | BBC Sunday-Night Theatre
The Green Pastures |
Ward Nurse | TV Series |
| 1959 | ITV Television Playhouse | Mrs. Jackson | TV Series |
| 1960 | Saturday Playhouse | Sarah | TV Series |
| 1960 | No Kidding | Coloured mother | |
| 1960 | Eugene O'Neill: Three Plays of the Sea
The Moon of the Caribbees, Bound East for Cardiff & In the Zone |
Bella | TV Movie |
| 1960 | Danger Man
Colonel Rodriguez |
Native Woman
Chloe |
TV Series |
| 1960 | Beware of Children | Black Mother | |
| 1961 | Deadline | Native woman | |
| 1961 | Flame in the Streets | uncredited | |
| 1961 | Hurricaine | Marie Robinson | TV Series |
| 1962 | Dark Pilgrimage | Three street-walkers | TV Movie |
| 1962 | BBC Sunday-Night Play | Esther | TV Series |
| 1962 | The Saint
The Arrow of God |
Hotel Maid | TV Series |
| 1963 | Jezebel ex UK | Miss Philpott | TV Series |
| 1963 | Harold Was Alright | Nurse | |
| 1963 | Your World | Mrs. Williams | TV Series |
| 1963 | Friday Night | Nurse | TV Series |
| 1964 | Armchair Theatre
Sharp at Four |
Cleaner | TV Series |
| 1965 | Secret Agent | Millie
Madame Celeste |
TV Series |
| 1965 | Barney Is My Darling | TV Series | |
| 1965 | Parallel Lines Sometimes Meet | Madame Celeste | |
| 1965 | The Crucible | Tituba | |
| 1966 | Naked Evil | Landlady | uncredited |
| 1967 | The Deadly Affair | Play Spectator | uncredited |
Further reading
- Egbuna Obi B., Black Candle for Christmas, 1980
- Amanda Bidnall, The West Indian Generation. Remaking British Culture in London, 1945–1965 (Migrations and Identities), 2017
See also
References
- ^ "Kingston Gleaner Newspaper Archives, Jun 29, 1966, p. 11". NewspaperArchive.com. 29 June 1966. p. 11. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ Britain), Commonwealth Institute (Great (1966). Annual Report. The Institute.
- ^ Chronicle. 1966.
- ^ "Kingston Gleaner Newspaper Archives | Feb 04, 1966, p. 6". newspaperarchive.com. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
- ^ "The 'rebel' history of the Grove | Institute of Race Relations". Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- ^ Robin D.G. Kelly, Stephen Tuck (2015). The Other Special Relationship: Race, Rights, and Riots in Britain and the United States. United States: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 1137500379.
- ^ Bruley, Sue (1999). Women in Britain since 1900. Macmillan International Higher Education. p. 144. ISBN 978-1-349-27743-8.
- ^ "Subscribe to read | Financial Times". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ a b Bidnall, Amanda (2017). The West Indian Generation: Remaking British Culture in London, 1945-1965. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. ISBN 9781786940032.
- ^ "Kingston Gleaner Newspaper Archives | Jun 29, 1966, p. 11". newspaperarchive.com. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
- ^ Busby, Margaret (2012-01-16). "Barry Reckord obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- ^ Jones, Glyn (2008). No Official Umbrella. Greece: DCG Publiation. ISBN 9609841805.
- ^ "Kingston Gleaner Newspaper Archives | Feb 04, 1966, p. 6". newspaperarchive.com. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
- ^ "The National Theatre at 50 – in pictures". The Guardian. 2013-10-19. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- ^ "Kingston Gleaner Newspaper Archives | Jun 29, 1966, p. 11". newspaperarchive.com. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
- ^ "White riot: The week Notting Hill exploded". The Independent. 2008-08-29. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- ^ Egbuna, Obi B. (1980). Black Candle for Christmas. Fourth Dimension. ISBN 978-978-156-109-2.
- ^ "Pearl Prescod". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- ^ "Pearl Prescod". BFI. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
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