In the 1930s Hawkins's focus was on the stage. He worked in the companies of Sybil Thorndike, John Gielgud and Basil Dean. His performances included "Port Said" by Emlyn Williams (1931), "Below the Surface" by HL Stoker and LS Hunt (1932), "Red Triangle" by Val Gielgud (1932), "Service" by CI Anthony, for director Basil Dean (1933), "One of Us" by Frank Howard, "As You Like It" by William Shakespeare (1933) and "Iron Flowers" by Cecil Lewis (1933, with Jessica Tandy his wife).