Marjorie Eyre

Marjorie Eyre-Parker (1897 – 3 December 1987) was an English singer and actress, best known for her performances in first the soprano, and later the mezzo-soprano, roles of the Savoy operas. She performed with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company for more than two decades and later performed with the J. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company. She married another D'Oyly Carte performer, Leslie Rands, in 1926.

Life and career Eyre was born and raised in Derby, England, and studied at the Royal College of Music.

D'Oyly Carte years

Eyre joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1924 playing chorus roles and taking the small part of Giulia in The Gondoliers. In 1925 in one of the D'Oyly Carte touring companies, she took over her first leading soprano role, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, and also was given the small parts of Lady Ella in Patience and Celia (and, sometimes, Phyllis) in Iolanthe. In 1926, she moved up from Ella to the title role in Patience. Later that year, she was also given the leading soprano roles of Rose Maybud in Ruddigore and Gianetta The Gondoliers. That year she also married a fellow member of the company, Leslie Rands. Later in their careers, the two would often be paired on stage. In 1927, Eyre returned to the main company where, in 1928, she was sharing Patience, Phyllis, Yum-Yum, Rose and Gianetta. She was known for her "economy of gesture", comic timing and ability to convey emotion. They performed in Australasia until 1951. In 1952, Rands and Eyre played the Earl of Essex and Jill-All-Alone in a week's run of Merrie England for charity in Priory Park, Chichester.

Eyre continued to be interested in Gilbert and Sullivan performances in later years and served as a vice-president of the Gilbert & Sullivan Society in London until her death, at the age of 90.

Eyre died in Brighton.

Recordings Her recordings with D'Oyly Carte included only Lady Saphir in Patience (1930) and Pitti-Sing in The Mikado (1936).