The gay life of Noël Coward
That other witty playwright
Born on the outskirts of London in 1899, Coward was the second son of Arthur, a piano salesman, and Violet, daughter of a naval captain. His older brother died the year before he was born. Despite the fact the family often struggled for money, Coward’s interest in performing was indulged from an early age—by seven he was regularly appearing in amateur productions, and attended the Chapel Royal Choir School, although otherwise his education was sparse and largely informal.
His mother was his biggest supporter, enrolling him in a dance academy after Choir School. By twelve, Coward had his first professional engagement in the children’s play, The Goldfish. From there, Coward secured influential contacts in the theatrical world who ensured he was never without work, and he joined the circuit with a number of notable child actors of the day.
At fourteen he caught the attention of the painter Philip Streatfeild, who as a noted society figure introduced Coward to a variety of his upper class friends. Coward became Streatfeild’s protege and probable lover, and the two were often seen together until Streatfeild’s death from TB the following year. After Streatfeild died, his friend and society lady Mrs. Astley Cooper took Coward under her wing and continued his association with the class of people he would…
