Theatrical Bookworm: A Life in Rare Plays

Barbara Cavanagh, who passed away at 86, was a self-taught antiquarian bookseller with a profound expertise in theatrical manuscripts, ballet ephemera, and opera materials. Her career involved extensive research and cataloging of significant collections, including those belonging to Sergei Diaghilev. She also curated a vast archive of theatre programmes.

In the 1960s, she co-founded Motley Books with her husband, John Cavanagh, dealing in rare materials across the continent. Later, they resided at Mottisfont Abbey, where Barbara established a school and the couple hosted numerous theatre productions. This period showcased her multifaceted engagement with the arts.

Following her separation from John, Barbara shifted her focus to dealing in transient theatrical documents. In her later years, she relocated to Hastings, embracing the local arts scene and the seaside. Until the end of summer, she continued her work, recently selling rare prompt books to the Garrick Club library.