Nellie Bramley

She was the first female Australian to own her own professional theatre company, The Nellie Bramley Company, which she founded in 1922 with her husband[8] William Russell, who had spent around 20 years as a business manager for J. C. Williamson. The new company began with a successful six month tour New Zealand,[4] before returning to Melbourne with the comedy drama Sunday at the Playhouse. Her husband intended upon establishing the playhouse theatre as a place for producing good drama.[9] She visited Tasmania for the first time in May 1923, with sell-out performances at the booking office in Launceston. At the time, she was the youngest star to have ever visited Tasmania.[10]

Nellie Bramley as Empress Josephine, April 1924

The company had toured all parts of Australia by 1925, with New South Wales being the last place to visit.[4] She featured in a mid-1920s promotional campaign to promote a soap product by Rexona.[11] By 1928, her company had established themselves among the favourites at the Theatre Royal.[12] A notable attribute considered by some in 1930 was her spontaneity, such as when portraying characters being serious or emotional. She was described at the time as having "a charming stage personality".[13] In June that year, she made a decision to abandon her programme of plays at the Grand Opera House, citing low audience numbers attributed to restricted spending due to the great depression. After reflecting on her decision and the potential impact in putting 50 people out of work, she changed her mind and decided "to be like Amy Johnson, and see it through".[14] By the time her season in Brisbane was concluded, she had completed a record 104 weeks during its run, which included producing 94 shows.[15]

Following financial difficulties and low ticket sales, Bramley filed for bankruptcy in May 1934, noting her unpaid debts were £3250 with assets worth just £700. She attributed the situation to meagre takings during some theatrical tours that on some occasions did not even cover theatre rent and advertisement costs. Often, members of her company would have to take a significant cut in pay if ticket receipts were low, although she would pay the full salary if receipts were at least satisfactory. She noted that although her season in Brisbane around 1932 was "a marvellous success", she lost money immediately thereafter during a tour of North Queensland and returned to Sydney where more money was further lost. She had some success during a 67-week tour of Melbourne, despite "a shaky start" and while profitable, profits were spent on covering losses incurred from previous tours. She would pay herself a salary of no more than £10 during her Brisbane tour and even less when in Melbourne.[16] At the time of the inquiry into her bankruptcy, she was not working but was hopeful of reopening shortly thereafter.[17] She was not given discharge from her bankruptcy until November 1951.[18]

Bramley retired from working on the stage full-time in 1934, but continued theatre work for many years thereafter.[8] She visited Christchurch, New Zealand during mid-1935 where she presented Beware of Widows at St James Theatre and was described as "the queen of comedy".[19] In September 1935, a benefit performance was held in her honour in Auckland following her company closing its season abruptly, yet she chose to stay rather than sailing back to Australia.[20] In 1941, she returned to Brisbane after an 11-year period of absence, to perform at the Comedy Theatre which was given an ovation by audience members.[21]

At one time, she was managed by George Cross, who at one time was a leading actor on Australian stage.[22] Her last professional appearance on stage was around 1943,[7] although she was known to take minor roles in small shows occasionally, such as "A Kiss for Cinderella" in 1947, where she played a queen.[23]