Whakaotihia te rerenga e whai ake nei: I whānau a Curtis ki Rānana i te Hakihea 1923 ki ngā manene Hurai o Ūropi ki te Rāwhiti ko Ada rāua ko Manny Brown. Ko tōna whaea me tōna kuia he toa hoko kākahu. I whakatipuhia a Curtis i Upper Street, Islington. I te pakarutanga o te Pakanga Tuarua o te Ao, i tukuna ia ki Somerset ka whakapiri atu ki te Workers 'Educational Association. I awhina te hononga ki te hanga i tana tirohanga hapori motuhake i ahu mai i tona papa, a, i arahina a Curtis ki te hiahia ki nga kaimau e kohikohi moni ana i runga i nga huarahi i te wa o te Pakanga Tuarua o te Ao.
Te Pirihitanga Nui o te tau 1926. I tutaki a Curtis ki te rangatira moana a Gerry Curtis i te 1943 ana i muri i te tiimata o te tokorua ki te whakaipoipo, ka uru atu raua ki te whakahaere i te whare tapere Unity Theatre. I marenatia te tokorua i te tau e whai ake nei ka noho ki Finchley, i uru a Curtis ki te Rōpū Kaunihera.