Overview

Hermann Vezin (1829 - 1910) was born and educated in Philadelphia, until he came to England to make his first stage performance at the Theatre Royal, York in 1850. He had a long and distinguished stage career, working with Charles Kean at the Princess's Theatre, and the Bensonites.

By the 1890's he had made his name as 'the best known teacher of acting in England' and was devoting himself to teaching elocution. His pupils included Herbert Beerbohm Tree, Baliol Holloway and Frank Benson, who regularly recruited Vezin's pupils to his company. Indeed he has been described as 'the most important single private tutor training actors in 1890-1914 period' (Michael Sanderson).

Hermann Vezin was the father of the actor, Arthur Vezin.

What the collection holds

The Hermann Vezin Collection is largely made up of correspondence from members of his theatrical circles, including Charles Kean, John Galsworthy, Arthur Pinero, Maud Beerbohm Tree, Dion Boucicault, Marie Tempest and Henry Irving. It also contains personal items and ephemera.

The online catalogue for this collection can be viewed here: 
BTC43 - Hermann Vezin Collection