Dodie Smith (1896-1990) - The Barrets, Howe Street, Essex, UK
Posted by: 
bill&ben
N 51° 59.006 E 000° 28.234
31U E 326302 N 5762216
A blue plaque by the Braintree & Bocking Civic Society in memory of the playwright and author Dodie Smith, who lived at The Barretts.
Waymark Code: WMJK8A
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/28/2013
Views: 2
Dorothy Smith was born on 3rd May 1896 in Bury,
Lancs. At the age of two her father died and she moved with her mother to her
grandfather’s house. Her grandfather William and her Uncle Harold were
significant influences in the young Dodie’s
life. Both men had a keen interest in the theatre and encouraged Dodie to write and to act.
In 1910 Dodie
and her mother moved to London. Dodie enrolled in the
Academy of Dramatic Art and joined several travelling companies of actors. After
a few years she became the toy buyer for Heal and Sons. During this period she
wrote a film script and two plays. Her second play, Autumn Crocus, was a
success in 1931. Other plays followed, with Call It A Day being a sufficient
success to allow Dodie to purchase The Barretts.
Her play, Dear Octupus, was taken from London to America. Whilst in America
she married Alec Macbeth Beesley, her manager and
long time friend. During the 1940s the couple stayed in America, largely due to
Beesley’s status as a concientious
objector. During this time she wrote I Capture The
Castle, later turned into a film in 2003. Further plays and books followed,
including her most famous film script for 101 Dalmations.
Alec Beesley
died in 1987 and Dodie Smith died in 24th November
1990.
The plaque reads
DODIE SMITH
1896-1990
Playwright and Author
The Barretts
Her Home
1934 - 1990