Barnsley Greats - Sheila Graham (1927 – 2009)
Barnsley is a creative hub and many talented people were born, grew up and/or live here. One person I have always been intrigued by is a lady called Sheila Graham, she was born in 1927 in Stairfoot. I researched her life and wrote a piece about her career that went on to be published in both The Dalesman and Memories of Barnsley Magazine.
A creative child, Sheila loved to draw and had a passion for art, she attended Grove School near Locke Park in Barnsley where she won awards for her drawings of ballets, a childhood passion that sent her onto a lifelong love of the theatre and the creative industries. When the family headed to London, she studied at the Maris Convent school then went on to study at St Martins School of Art.
After completing her studies Sheila went on to work in Liverpool, at the Liverpool Playhouse which during the second world war, was the temporary home to the Old Vic theatre company. Sheila also worked for the Old Vic in London for a while under the directorship of Laurence Olivier. During this period in London, she created sets and costumes for many productions. At the same time as working in the theatre she took up a position with the film production company Two Cities and it was here she gained a large amount of experience working on film sets and meeting Hollywood greats including John Mills while working on the murder mystery film The October Man.
In 1948 Sheila was appointed costume co-ordinator and started working at Pinewood studios located in the village of Iver Heath, just outside London, on films such as Fools Rush In. This then led to a role at Walt Disney productions as the costume designer. Most notably working on the movie Treasure Island, at Denham Studios, released in July 1950. The film was the first live action Disney movie and the first screen version of Treasure Island made in colour. Sheila continued to work in film and dress stars including Greggory Peck, Dirk Bogarde and Thora Hird.
Despite great success within the film industry, Sheila always continued to go back to her first love, the theatre. In the 1950s Sheila’s work was exhibited in the Victoria and Albert Museum for an exhibition named Exhibition of British Stage Design. She also created a number of other sketchers for her portfolio including portraits of Sir Alec Guinness, Sir Laurence Olivier, and Celia Johnson.
In 1953 she took a step back to begin a family, marrying Hector John McLusky in Kensington. Sheila and Hector had two children together and set up home in Hertfordshire. Later they dedicated their time to running a theatre company called The Elizabethans which travelled around the country. Her son Graham has also followed in his mother’s footsteps and currently works as a lighting designer, mainly in Theatre. Sean, her younger son runs a production company in the music industry and is also an established professional drummer.
Sheila died in 2009. She will be remembered as a creative and ambitious woman who paved the way for women in theatre and film design. Examples of her work can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum and at the BFI. With thanks to Sheila’s son Graham McLusky.