Opera Scotland

Helen Gilliland Suggest updates

Born Belfast 1897.

Died December 1942.

Northern Irish soprano.

Helen Gilliland made her first stage appearance with D’Oyly Carte at the age of twenty, and soon took on roles such as Casilda, Aline, Mabel, Phyllis, and Yum-Yum. She added Patience in 1921.

Later in her career she appeared in several London musical comedies, including Round in 50 (1922), The Cousin from Nowhere (1923), Katinka (1923), Castles in the Air (1927), Lady Mary (1928), Song of the Drum (1931) and Nina Rosa (1931) as well as Carl Brisson's Merry Widow revival.

She was drowned during the war when her ship was torpedoed.