HARRIS, Audrey Sophia “Sophie” (1900 – 1966) and Margaret Frances “Percy” (1904 -2000)
Theatrical set and costume designers
The early years of the well known founders of the Motley Company, Audrey and Margaret (Percy) Harris, were spent in Hayes. They were the daughters of William and Kathleen Harris and until 1937 their home was the White House, Hayes, although they trained and later had their studio in London.
Their mother Kathleen had artistic leanings and was a keen amateur photographer. From an early age they were encouraged to dress up and had a fairly unrestricted life exploring and playing on the Common. Both Sophie and Margaret inherited their mother’s talent but sadly she died in 1916. Before Kathleen died she was a member of the Kent 50 VADs which Audrey joined as soon as she was old enough, serving at Oakley VAD Hospital on Bromley Common until the war ended.
After the war the sisters became involved with local organisations helping with the newly formed Girl Guides and with the plays performed by the local Women’s Institute. In 1928, for example, Percy Harris made the costumes for a Guide entertainment that raised £8. In 1930 Audrey Harris, took part in a WI production of scenes from ‘Quality Street’ by J M Barrie and in 1931 both Peggy and Audrey took part in a Hayes WI performance for which they made the costumes.
Also starring was Elizabeth Montgomery whom they met when they were at Art College in London and with whom they formed the influential Motley Company. Their Company became renowned for its theatrical designs of sets and costumes.
Hilda Reader, daughter of the Hayes village dressmaker, was the principal costume cutter for about 30 years. In the beginning, Motley operated from the White House until premises were found in London. Their first major client was John Gielgud when he directed a production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ for the Oxford University Dramatic Society in 1932. They also designed the costumes for his ‘Merchant of Venice’ at the Old Vic in the same year. The operation expanded and eventually they needed to employ a staff of 60. Laurence Olivier called them ‘magical’ designers and used them for his ‘Macbeth’ in 1937 and ‘Romeo and Juliet’ on Broadway in 1940. Sophie married actor and director George Devine in July 1939.
Sophie died in 1966 and Peggy then set up the Motley Theatre Design Company. She visited the White House a few months before she died on 10 May 2000.
Further information
Mullin M, Design by Motley, University of Delaware Press , 1996
Strachan Alan, Motley Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, OUP, 2004.