Theatre
Theatre playbill: 19th century
Theatre playbill. A poster for the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. It shows Dan Leno in costume for the children's pantomime "Forty Thieves", written and invented by Arthur Skrugess and Arthur Collins. Leno performed in pantomime at Drury Lane every Christmas between 1888 and 1903.
That's Entertrainment! Everyone should Train for the Stage', BR poster, c 1970s.
Poster produced for British Rail, promoting 'Theatre and Concert Rail Club' excursions to London, showing an intercity locomotive, with crowds of theatre- goers and the lights and billboards of London's West End theatres in the background. Nelson's Column is seen in the distance. Designed and printed by Dewynters Ltd, London.
New Pavilion Theatre, Whitechapel: c.1905
Photographic image of The Pavilion Theatre in Whitechapel, seen from accross the street. Home of Yiddish Theatre in the East End, The Pavilion Theatre reached the height of its popularity in the early decades of the twentieth century, after which it went into decline and was forced to close in 1935.
A group of men talking outside the Palace Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue: c. 1955
This image shows a group of men gathered in front of the Palace Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, c. 1955. The English Singer Frankie Vaughan is listed as a performer at the Theatre when this picture was taken.
Pollock's Toy Theatre: c.1850
Pollocks toy theatre. This toy theatre has a proscenium with an arch with ribbon ties, a wooden stage and flies unit incorporating a footlight insert. The orchestra is represented on the front panel of stage. Plays produced at the major and suburban theatres were full of exciting larger-than-life characters. Apart from the 'pin-up' portrait prints of actors in costume, print sellers sold model theatres to be constructed out of card and paper. They included stage fronts, sets and small figures for cutting out. Once made up, favourite scenes from popular plays could be acted out at home.
View of the New Front towards Bridges Street of the Principal Entry to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane: 18th century
View of the New Front towards Bridges Street of the Principal Entry to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Engraving. Street scene depicting the facade of Theatre Royal in Drury Lane with a sedan chair, a carriage, a costermonger, a horseman, a dog and several pedestrians. The theatre, re-built by Wren in 1672-4, had just been remodelled inside and out by the Adam brothers.
Re-opening of the Cotteslow Theatre with a Festival of New Plays
Poster designed by Michael Michael Mayhew with illustration by Bruce McLean
Alhambra Theatre programme cover: 1912
Alhambra Theatre programme cover. This theatre programme is for a variety show at the Alhambra Theatre, Leicester Square. The programme lists performances for the week commencing Monday 17 June 1912. The cover price was 6d [sixpence].
Theatre programme for Gatti's Palace of Varieties: 1902
Theatre programme for Gatti's Palace of Varieties. Gatti's Palace of Varieties, on Westminster Bridge Road, was opened by Carlo Gatti in 1865. Known as 'Gatti's-in-the-Road' it held 900 people and was the second music hall to be opened by the Swiss-Italian caterer. His other venue in Villiers Street, Charing Cross, was known as 'Gatti's Under-the-Arches'. This programme from the turn of the 20th century lists several acts including clog dancing by Minnie Ray, and Violet Mills - described as a 'serio-comic vocalist and dancer'. Entrance tickets entitled guests to a seat and a mug of beer. Animated films shown on the Edisonograph were also on the bill: an indication as to the future use of the theatre as a cinema. In variety shows like Gatti's, artists often performed at one venue, then at one or two others in the same evening before returning to take part in the finale at the original theatre.
Royal Holborn Theatre of Varieties programme: 1900
Royal Holborn Theatre of Varieties programme. This theatre programme for the Royal Holborn Theatre of Varieties features a colour chromoligthograph image of facade of theatre on the cover. The artists listed performing, on 22 October 1900, include the comedienne Vesta Victoria and the American Comedy Four described as 'Harmonious Part-singing Extraordinary'. The list of acts is bordered by numerous advertisements including pianos for sale, Sulpholine skin lotion, and alcoholic drinks and cigars sold in theatre outlets. Opened on 16 November 1857, as Weston's Music Hall, after its owner Charles Weston, the theatre was renamed the Royal Music Hall in 1868, and changed names again in 1892, becoming the Royal Holborn Theatre of Varieties. The last surviving theatre in the West End to stage variety shows, it was destroyed during the Blitz in 1941.
Theatre of Blood
Poster designed by Michael Mayhew, photograph of Jim Broadbent by Stephen Cummiskey
North, West, View of Drury-lane Theatre: 1793
North West view of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane after rebuilding. The plan was drawn by architect Henry Holland. This theatre was burnt down in 1809, to the ruin of Sheridan. This engraving is an illustration from the European Magazine.
Buy a Bill of the Play, Drury Lane Theatre: 1804
Image of a young woman selling theatre bills for Hamlet outside the Theatre Royal. She also carries a pannier around her neck with nuts and fruit. This image was originally published as a series of thirty one prints with drawings by W.M. Craig and engraved by Edwards. Theatre bills contained the title and cast of the night's performance, they were sold at the door of the theatre for one penny, mostly by female criers. The same criers also sold fruit, and customers who also bought fruit were given a bill for free.
Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold in their box at Covent Garden Theatre, 1816: 1817
Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold in their box at Covent Garden Theatre, 1816. The artist George Dawe was much patronised by the royal couple. This portrait was commissioned by Princess Charlotte, but Fry's engraving was not issued until 6 April 1818 - after Princess Charlotte's death in November 1817. Charlotte and Leopold are depicted seated in a classically ornamented box at the Covent Graden Theatre. He holds a libretto and looks at her. She is shown wearing a totally plain dress, but with a magnificent cashmere paisley shawl which is draped over one shoulder and falls over the box, showing off its exotic design; none of these costly shawls now survives. Charlotte has a wreath of roses in her hair and wears a low cut, high waisted dress of light weight material. The performance they are watching was of Henry VIII, performed for the benefit of the Theatrical Fund on Saturday 29 June 1817. The cast included Mrs Siddons as Queen Katherine.
Programme for the 'Palace Theatre of Varieties': 1899
Programme for the 'Palace Theatre of Varieties' dated September 4 1899. The programme folds into three section. This image shows the back of the program, which depicts a female dancer. The Palace Theatre opened as the Royal English Opera House on 31 January 1891 with Arthur Sullivan's romantic opera, Ivanhoe. Under the management of Richard D'Oyly Carte, the venue aimed to be the home of English opera. It failed to attract sufficient public interest and in 1892 the building was sold. It reopened as a music hall - the Palace Theatre of Varieties a few years after that.
New Covent Garden Theatre: 1810
New Covent Garden Theatre. A coloured aquatint showing the stage and the interior of the New Covent Garden Theatre, as rebuilt after the fire of 1808. This print was published in volume III of Ackermann's 'Microcosm of London.'
Theatre programme for the Alhambra Theatre of Varieties: 1895
Theatre programme for the Alhambra Theatre of Varieties, Leicester Square. This programme folds into 3 sections. On the cover are colour chromolithographed illustrations showing female dancers, acrobat and music hall artists. On the reverse is printed a list of performances at the theatre for the week beginning January 14th 1895. Entertainments include a performance of the ballet Ali Baba, a pantomime sketch Monkey Island and an acrobatic act.
Poster of Gismonda with Sarah Bernhardt at the Theatre Renaissance, by Alphonse Mucha
Poster of Gismonda with Sarah Bernhardt at the Theatre Renaissance, by Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) and printed by Lemercier of Paris. Lithograph. France, 1894.