Song sergeant for vista4/10/2023 ![]() By 1872, her father had quit his job to manage her career full-time and she was supporting her family. She would later perform male roles exclusively, saying that "I felt that I could express myself better if I were dressed as a boy." Īt the time, British music hall entertainment was increasingly popular and Powles' fame grew as she became older. Her first character of note was "Pocket Sims Reeves", spoofing the act of the then-famous opera singer Sims Reeves by performing his songs such as "The Anchor's Weighed". She began her professional career in 1869 and was to be on the stage until 1920. ![]() With her father's encouragement, Powles first appeared on stage at the age of three and by six she was appearing to sing songs dressed as a man. He was a musician who became master of ceremonies at the Theatre Royal, Gloucester and later the St George's Hall in Nottingham. Her father was Henry Powles, known as Harry Ball. She was the second child out of a total of thirteen and shared her first name with her mother Matilda Powles (née Broughton). Matilda Alice Powles was born at Commandery Street, Worcester on. "Following a fellow with a face like me" by Vesta Tilley in 1908 Her life story was commemorated in the 1957 film After the Ball. She died in 1952 on a visit to London and is buried at Putney Vale Cemetery. She then supported her husband when he became a Member of Parliament and later retired with him to Monte Carlo. Her last performance was in 1920 at the Coliseum Theatre, London. During the First World War she was known as "England’s greatest recruiting sergeant" since she sang patriotic songs dressed in khaki fatigues like a soldier and promoted enlistment drives.īecoming Lady de Frece in 1919, she decided to retire and made a year-long farewell tour from which all profits went to children's hospitals. At a Royal Command Performance in 1912, she scandalised Queen Mary because she was wearing trousers. She married Walter de Frece, a theatre impresario who became her new manager and songwriter. She was also a star in the vaudeville circuit in the United States, touring a total of six times. She found additional success as a principal boy in pantomime.īy the 1890s, Tilley was England's highest earning woman. She typically performed as a dandy or fop, also playing other roles. Starting in provincial theatres with her father as manager, she performed her first season in London in 1874. She adopted the stage name Vesta Tilley and became one of the best-known male impersonators of her era. Matilda Alice Powles ( – 16 September 1952) was an English music hall performer.
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