The Film Maker's Tale

Hannchen Drasdo: Hull-based actor, stage producer, broadcaster, puppeteer, fundraiser and film maker

Hull on Film: Tales From A City Exhibition (2018) by Yorkshire Film ArchiveYorkshire Film Archive

Hannchen Drasdo (1955-01-14) by The Daily MailYorkshire Film Archive

The Film Maker's Tale: Hannchen Drasdo

Hannchen Drasdo was born in Hull in 1886, to parents Paul and Julia. She had three brothers: Rudolph, Albert and Frank.  Her father came from Berlin and her mother from Norway; they moved to Hull, where Paul worked as an immigration agent, helping families fleeing persecution.    

Humber Dock and Piers, Hull (1886)Yorkshire Film Archive

"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

Hannchen Drasdo 'From Morn Till Midnight' (1932) by Hannchen DrasdoYorkshire Film Archive

A single day in Hull is immortalised forever by Hannchen Drasdo in her film ‘From Morn till Midnight’, made in 1932.

As dawn breaks, ships arrive into dock; early morning deliveries are made by horse, cart and barrow; factory chimneys belch smoke. Back at the docks, the catch of the day is landed. The city centre bustles with traffic of all kinds. As day turns to night, the jazz club beckons, before we end where we began – on the docks, beneath the light of the moon.

Hannchen Drasdo newspaper article (1955-01-14) by The Daily MailYorkshire Film Archive

Hull From Morn Till Midnight (1932) by Hannchen DrasdoYorkshire Film Archive

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!”

Drasdo Repertory Company (1950-06) by Hull Daily MailYorkshire Film Archive

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

Hannchen Drasdo newspaper articles (1945) by Hull Daily MailYorkshire Film Archive

The Drasdo Repertory CompanyYorkshire Film Archive

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

Radio Times (1923-11-23/1926-02-19) by BBCYorkshire Film Archive

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.

Cecily Danby (1930) by UnknownYorkshire Film Archive

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.

Hannchen Drasdo - 'Tomorrow is Too Late' (1952) by Kingston-upon-Hull City Police, Hannchen Drasdo, and Dradso Repertory CompanyOriginal Source: The full film can be viewed on the YFA website.

"Tomorrow is Too Late" Articles (1952) by Hull Daily MailYorkshire Film Archive

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

Credits: Story

We are indebted to the Heritage Lottery Fund for supporting our work to preserve these films and make them accessible for future generations. The research has been extensive and the exhibition contains only some of the stories we have discovered. To see further films, visit www.yorkshirefilmarchive.com

It is not possible to list everyone who has helped with this project – we are hugely grateful for the generosity of responses we have received, from families, historians and volunteers. In particular we would like to thank:

Val Baxter, Jonathan Barker, David Drasdo, Malcolm Dunn, Daniel Morgan

Curator: Martin Watts Hull on Film
Editor: Andy Burns, Yorkshire Film Archive,
Writer: Ruth Patman, Yorkshire Film Archive
Archivist: Megan McCooley, Yorkshire Film Archive

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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