Nancy Hewins

Margaret Nancy Hewins (14 February 1902 – 17 January 1978) was a British theatre director and actress. She founded the first all-woman theatre troupe who toured the UK presenting Shakespeare particularly to schools.

Life Hewins was born in London. Her parents were Margaret (born) and William Hewins. She had a brother and a sister. Her godmother was Beatrice Webb

She became interested in the theatre while she was at St Hugh's College in Oxford. In 1924 she graduated and set up an amateur theatre company called Isis. She was helped by £40 which Lord Rothermere gave her to help. Rothermere was a friend of her fathers. The troupe toured in two Rolls-Royces because Hewins said that they were big enough to take them and their props and they were reliable. for the director Edy Craig. Others found Craig abrupt, but Hewins welcomed her direct criticism.

Death and legacy Hewins died in 1978 in Oxford and the players were disbanded by former Osiris member Wynne Griffiths. Her troupe had toured throughout England but they never appeared in the West End. In 2004 Imogen Stubbs play "We Happy Few" was performed at the London's Gielgud Theatre. The play was based on Hewins and her troupe's life during the second world war.