The Film Maker's Tale

"The emigrants came across to Hull in the most deplorable conditions. The Russians and the Poles were the majority of the emigrant trade.

It was painful to see the state they arrived in and they were herded over here in ships that never should have been allowed to carry passengers. They slept on straw pallets which the crew threw overboard as they were steaming up the Humber.

They were very frightened people. The ship would dock then they would walk to the Paragon Station ... where the emigrant hall was. This was the reception centre they were all taken to."

David Drasdo, great-grandson of Paul Julius Drasdo

By the age of 22, Hannchen was giving recitals of plays and poetry. After elocution training, she made her professional debut on 28th January 1908, going on to tour Norway in 1914. She was at the heart of Hull’s cultural life for over 50 years as an actor, stage producer, broadcaster, puppeteer, fundraiser and film maker.

She was a prime mover in the formation of the Hull Little Theatre. In the 1930s, she learnt how to work puppets and put on shows at Newland’s for the children in the homes run by the Sailors’ Children Society. In an interview with the Hull Daily Mail in 1934, Hannchen declared to the reporter “I can now work two dolls and a cow in one hand!”

In 1942 Hannchen formed her own theatre company, the Drasdo Repertory Company, to boost morale whilst Hull was being subjected to major bombing raids. The company performed a wide variety of plays, ranging from Shakespeare to Noel Coward. The productions were often in aid of a good cause or charity.

Top: The cast from the Drasdo Company's 1945 production of Noel Coward’s ‘Hay Fever’. Hannchen played the leading role of Judith Bliss.
- Hull Daily Mail, 5th April 1945

Hannchen was involved with fundraising for the troops in both world wars. Her brother, Albert, was killed in 1918 whilst serving in the Army and Rudolph was awarded the Military Medal, serving in the Royal Engineers.

Bottom: Advertisement for the ‘Merry Wives of Windsor’ featuring the Drasdo Repertory Company.
- Hull Daily Mail, June 1950

Top: Members of the cast of 'As You Like it', the Drasdo Repertory Company.
- Hull Daily Mail, June 1945

Bottom: Open-Air Players, members of the Drasdo Repertory Company who are presenting 'Toad of Toad Hall'.
- Hull Daily Mail, July 1943

From 1924 to 1927, Hannchen was a regular contributor to 6KH, Hull’s first local wireless station.

It opened in August 1924, broadcasting from Bishop Lane in Hull’s Old Town, and within weeks she was giving dramatic recitals of plays, poetry and prose. She broadcast right up to 1927 when the station was reduced to just news, before it finally closed in 1928.

Below: The Radio Circle badge. The Radio Circle was the children’s supporters’ club for 6KH, Hull’s first local radio station.

During the 1950s, Hannchen directed road safety films for Kingston-upon-Hull City Police. The script for the road safety film ‘Tomorrow is Too Late’ was written by Hull novelist Cecily Danby, Hannchen's neighbour in Sculcoates, whose father was a policeman.

"Tomorrow is too late" articles from the Hull Daily Mail, August 1950.