Ngaio was internationally renown as a mystery writer of detective novels

Her interests also included painting, acting & theatre production

Ngaio began writing her first novel "A man lay dead" when living in London between 1928-1932

Photo ca. 1930

Between 1934-1982, she published 32 novels featuring British CID detective Roderick Alleyn (later Chief Superintendent)

In 2018, HarperCollins released "Money in the morgue" by Ngaio Marsh & Stella Duffy, which Ngaio had started during WW2

The novels were set mainly in England with 4 in NZ

Novels set in NZ: "Vintage murder" (1937) "Colour scheme" (1943), "Died in the wool" (1945), & "Photo finish" (1980)

Ngaio has been classed as one of the four original "Queens of Crime"

The others: Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers & Margery Allingham

Ngaio was also a playwright, actor, theatre director & painter

The Ngaio Marsh Theatre at the University of Canterbury was named in her honour in 1967. (Photo: ca. 1936-1937)

Ngaio attended a "dame school" (private school); then was home-schooled by governess Miss Ffitch from 9-14yrs

Ngaio's recollections include producing her first play aged 10 at her Aunt's house (Interview, 1954; 11:40 min)

At age 15, Ngaio went to St Margaret's College run by Anglo-Catholic nuns & was head prefect (1912-13)

College opened 1910 & its first magazine (Easter 1912) was jointly edited by Ngaio & included 2 of her essays & a poem

At the College, Ngaio became interested in theatre & playwriting & wrote "The Moon Princess"

Her play was performed at the College in Sept 1913 with her mother as the witch, & then at His Majesty's Theatre in 1918

Ngaio studied painting at Canterbury College School of Art part-time from 1909 (when still at school) until 1919

Gained Diploma 1st Class (1917). Did private tutoring for an income & shared studio in Cashel St. with fellow students.

Ngaio showed her play "The medallion" to Allan Wilkie who invited her to tour as an actress, & she helped produce plays

Ngaio joined Allan Wilkie Theatre Company in 1919-20 & the Rosemary Rees English Comedy Company in 1921

After touring, Ngaio returned to Christchurch & joined the Wauchop School of Drama and Dancing

She taught speech craft at Wauchop, & also wrote articles, poems & stories that were published in 'The Sun', 1918-1925

Ngaio performed her play "Little housebound" at Wauchop in 1924

She also produced a series of travelling vaudeville shows & annual charity pantomimes for Unlimited Charities

Image: "The Sleeping Beauty". Souvenir programme for which she was the producer, 1925.

Ngaio continued painting & was part of an exhibition by The Group in 1927, 1928, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1940 & 1947

The Group was formed in 1927 by former students of the Canterbury College of Art to provide a less academic alternative

In 1928 Ngaio visited England with friends (Rhodes & Plunket families) & enjoyed the theatre & social life

Ngaire opened an interior decorating handicraft shop "Touch and Go" in London with friend Nellie Rhodes

When in London, Ngaio began writing syndicated travel articles under the pseudonym ‘A New Canterbury Pilgrim'

Following publication in NZ newspapers by Associated Press, Ngaio was elected in Jan 1929 to the Society of Authors

A short story was included in "New Zealand Short Stories: chosen and edited by O. N. Gillespie” (Dent & Sons, 1930)

Ngaio acquired a flat near Eaton Mansions (SW3) when her mother came for a brief visit

Ngaio returned to NZ in Aug 1932 - her mother was unwell & later died in Nov 1932

Ngaio looked after her father until his death in Sept 1948. They lived at the Marton Cottage at Cashmere.

She took year-long trip to England & painted in France, Germany, Italy, Austria & Belgium, returning to NZ in March 1938

Newspaper reported Ngaio published her 6th novel “Artists in crime” & had started drafting “Death goes dancing”

As well as continuing to write, Ngaio also painted & held exhibitions in NZ

Ngaio continued with her acting & also wrote plays for local repertory societies

Ngaio Marsh as Hamlet, 1930s. (When in London in 1938, she had seen a modern production starring Alec Guinness)

Scene from 1935 production of 'Exit Sir Derek' produced by Ngaio

Ngaio's novel "The nursing home murder" (published 1935) was adapted for the play

Ngaio Marsh photographed 1930s

During World War II, Ngaio worked as voluntary aid worker with the hospital & Red Cross, & continued to write her novels

She also collaborated with R.M. Burdon on the NF book "New Zealand" for the 'Britain in pictures' series published 1942

In 1941 she became involved with the Canterbury University College Drama Society

The College's Drama Society asked Ngaio to direct "Outward bound" by Sutton Vane

In 1943 Ngaio produced a modern-dress "Hamlet" in the College's assembly hall called the Little Theatre

"Hamlet" and "Othello" went on tour to Dunedin, Auckland & Wellington during 1944-45 (Photo: Ngaio seated at the centre)

Members of the Hamlet cast with director Ngaio (4th from left), 1943

Ngaio directed the Canterbury University production of Henry V at the Little Theatre, Canterbury College, Dec 1945

Father Christmas alongside play director Ngaio Marsh, ca. 1945

Christmas party on set of "Henry V"

Wellington Mayor William Appleton welcomes touring actors from Canterbury University College on 29 Jan 1945

(Evening Post: Ngaio Marsh (Director of the Canterbury University College Drama Society) is seated to Appleton's right)

Scene from 1945 production of "A Midsummer night's dream" directed by Ngaio

Scene from "A Midsummer night's dream"

Scene from Canterbury University production of "Macbeth" directed by Ngaio, July 1946

Ngaio and the cast of "Macbeth", 1947

After her father died in 1948, Ngaio continued to live in the family home where she did her writing & visited England

Her production of Pirandello's "Six characters in search of an author" was held for Laurence Olivier & Viven Leigh, 1948

Olivier & Leigh were touring NZ with Old Vic Company when the private performance was held in Sept & visited her home

From Jan - Feb 1949, Ngaio toured Australia with "Othello" & Pirandello's play, & took latter to London in 1950

Canterbury Student Players went to Sydney, Melbourne & Canberra, & met the Lord Mayor & Lady Mayoress of Sydney

In 1949, Ngaio proposed a British Commonwealth Theatre Company to play in Britain & the 'Dominions' & recruited actors

After playing in England, during 1951 the Company toured Australia & NZ with Ngaio as artistic director; then disbanded

During 1950s, Ngaio was also involved with the New Zealand Players - a national professional touring repertory company

In 1951 Ngaio was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)

'Julius Caesar' produced by Ngaio, 25 July - 5 Aug 1953. She then had an extended stay in London.

She kept writing, formed Ngaio Marsh Ltd as an independent company, & attended Int. Conference on Theatre History (1955)

In 1956, Ngaio returned to NZ & directed the University of Canterbury production of "King Lear"

She would spend about three months each year on theatrical work, & nine months on writing

Ngaio Marsh (centre) with drama society of Canterbury University College, 1958

Stage set at the Civic Theatre for "Antony and Cleopatra" produced by Ngaio Marsh in 1959

Page of stage directions for Scene XI of "Antony and Cleopatra", 1959

Ngaio made books for each show with edited scripts, notes in margins, & drawings of staging & actors' movements

In 1960, Ngaio visited Far East, US & Britain, returning to NZ in 1961 where she continued to work with Drama Society

In 1962, she was conferred an Hon. Doctor of Letters (LittD) by Univ. of Canterbury & delivered Macmillan Brown Lectures

Interviews with Ngaio (1965) & Douglas Lilburn (1975) on incidental music provided by Lilburn for her play productions

Her play/opera "A unicorn for Christmas" was performed for Queen & Duke of Edinburgh during 1963 Royal Tour of NZ

Ngaio Marsh & Frank Sargeson walking out of Katherine Mansfield Memorial Park, 1965

Sargeson had just received the Katherine Mansfield Literary Award for his short story 'Just Trespassing, Thanks'.

In 1966, Ngaio published her autobiography, "Black Beech and Honeydew"

Ngaio Marsh Theatre at Univ. of Canterbury is named in her honour & she directed "Twelfth Night" on 2 June 1967

It replaced the Little Theatre which burnt down in 1948. After 2011 earthquake, it was rebuilt & reopened on 2 Aug 2019.

Ngaio appeared on the BBC’s Desert Island Discs radio show in 1968

Two extracts from Shakespeare were in her list of six tracks – Twelfth Night & Henry V (recording of Laurence Olivier)

The University of Canterbury Drama Society presented "A midsummer night's dream" produced by Ngaio Marsh

Season ran from 14 June - 5 July 1969. This was her last production with the students & starred Sam Neill.

Ngaio Marsh Award for Television Writing was sponsored by NZBC & Collins' Crime Club in 1971

Won by Fiona Kidman for 'Green Apples and a Jug' which was not produced

In 1972, Ngaio (when 77 years of age) was invited by the Christchurch City Council to direct Shakespeare's "Henry V"

The play was for the opening of newly constructed James Hay Theatre in Christchurch (Photo: Ngaio Marsh, 21 Feb 1972)

Ngaio interviewed on directing Shakespeare plays and her writing (13 April 1973: 5:28 min)

(In 1975-76, Ngaio directed for the last time - actor Jonathan Elsom in his one-man show "Sweet Mr Shakespeare")

Ngaio talks about fellow crime writer Agatha Christie and how she met her (Feb 1974, 3:07 min)

In 1974, during her last visit to England, Ngaio was inducted into London Detection Club founded by Anthony Berkeley

Ngaio Marsh Theatre was based on 4 murder mysteries: Vintage murder, Died in the wool, Colour scheme, & Opening night

UK actor George Baker starred as Inspector Roderick Alleyn. Series was aired in 1977.

George Baker (left) in the role of Chief Detective Inspector Alleyn, Ngaio Marsh (centre), ca. 1977

On the set of "Vintage murder"

"Died in the wool" was part of an anthology series adapting the murder mysteries of Dame Ngaio Marsh, 1978

Ngaio Marsh Theatre was the first New Zealand television drama to screen in the US (on PBS)

Ngaio received the Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement as a detective novelist in March 1978

It was awarded by the Mystery Writers of America. Later in Sept 1980, her 30th novel "Grave mistake" was published.

Ngaio Marsh Collection - interviews & events from the collection of Dr Margaret Lewis, 1970s

During 1979 she continued to write "Photo finish" which was published in 1980 to mark 50th anniv. of Collins Crime Club

Ngaio describes the circumstances in which she became a published author of crime fiction, 21 May 1980

Interview with Elizabeth Alley, 4:18 min

After suffering a major heart attack in June 1980, Ngaio was largely confined to her house in Cashmere, Christchurch

Due to her ill-health, she employed a full-time live-in housekeeper. (Photo: Ngaio Marsh, 1980)

She began revising her autobiography (first published 1966) which was completed in 1981

She also began writing her final novel "Light thickens" which she sent to her British & American agents on 7 Jan 1982

Following Ngaio's death, tributes in NZ, Britain & America praised her work as an author and in the theatre

Her 32nd novel "Light thickens" was published in Sept 1982 by Collins (Britain) & Little, Brown and Company (Boston)

Ngaio Marsh plaque - Christchurch Writers Trail

Ngaio was included in the New Zealand Authors Stamp Issue: 80c Ngaio Marsh (1 March 1989)

Wellington artist Allan Mitchell painted the portraits: 40c Katherine Mansfield, 60c James K Baxter, 70c Bruce Mason

The house was built for Ngaio’s parents in 1906 by Christchurch architect Samuel Hurst Seager (cousin of Ngaio’s mother)

It was originally known as Marton Cottage & was built on land purchased in 1904 by the Marsh family

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga has listed the house as a Category 1 Historic Place on 27 June 1985

(Cat. 1 Historic Place of special or outstanding historical or cultural significance or value: Registration no. 3673)

Additions to the house were made over the years

1948 (architects Helmore & Cotterill); 1956-59 (additions to front bedroom & verandah removed) & 1990-2001 (new studio)

Ngaio, who was unmarried, had left her home to a relative

The home was rented out for a number of years & put it up for sale in 1992

The Ngaio Marsh House and Heritage Trust was formed to purchase the house

As a house museum, Ngaio's home showcases her writing, her involvement with drama & work as a painter

The "Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel" was established by journalist Craig Sisterson in 2010

The 1st award was to Alix Bosco (pseudo for Greg McGee) for the thriller "Cut & Run"

Now known as "Ngaio Marsh Awards" & presented annually for excellence in crime fiction, mystery, & thriller writing

Awards include: Best Crime Novel, Best First Novel & Best Non-Fiction (Photo: 2011 award to Paul Cleave for "Blood men")

In 2019, "Money in the morgue" which Ngaio had started during WW2 & was completed by Stella Duffy was shortlisted

Ngaio had written four chapters and left some notes on the plot set in mid-World War II in a hospital in NZ

Ngaio wearing her beret (4th from left)

"As a salute to Ōtautahi's Queen of Crime - Dame Ngaio Marsh" the Beret Day was held on 10 Oct 2022

See: https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/blogs/post/hooray-for-berets-ngaio-marsh-beret-day/

Ngaio Marsh Beret Day celebrated by Christchurch City Libraries