Career
Howarde was a notable actor, playwright, producer and director She was best known for her play Possum Paddock in 1919. The talented Howarde also played a part in numerous roles as playwright in over 10 plays from 1914-1938.
She was the first Australian woman to direct a feature film.
The late 1890s saw big things for Howarde when she adopted the stage name Kate Howarde. She began touring Australia and performing in different settings such as tents and halls.
Kate Howarde and her company continued touring Australia and New Zealand up until 1905. The company was involved in such things as occasionally staged pantomimes and burlesques some of which included Sinbad the Sailor (1897), Little Jack Sheppard, Aladdin and Diavolo.
Howarde"s big break came with the play Possum Paddock which was released in 1919.
The play was written, produced and presented by Howarde. The play brought such success she decided to turn it into a film, which she also starred in, produced, co-directed and co-scripted along with Charles Villiers. This was the first Australian feature film to be co-directed by a woman, making Howarde a female pioneer within the emerging Australian film industry.
The film was set to be released on 29 January 1921.
The success of Possum Paddock gained her stardom in the business which led to a 10-month tour across several companies. Howarde did not make any more films but continued to write many more plays with her company which were also great success, the last play she wrote was Judgement of jean Calvert before her death in 1939.
