Not currently on display at the V&A

Print Collection

Playbill
January 1929 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Printed poster in the form of a 19th century playbill with illustrations by George Sheringham designed for the 10th anniversary celebrations of Sir Nigel Playfair's management of the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith. The Poster advertises 'A Grand Diversion' of entertainment including performances of A Nice Read in Bed, Kate in the Call Box or, the Sailor's Farewell and Sir Nigel's Nightmare or the Mutiny Against Macheath on Sunday 27th Hanuary 1929. Printed in Westminster by The Miles Press.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePrint Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
print, ink on paper
Brief description
Printed poster in the form of a 19th century playbill with illustrations by George Sheringham designed for the 10th anniversary celebrations of Sir Nigel Playfair's management of the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, 27 January 1929. Printed by the Miles Press, Westminster.
Physical description
Poster in the form of a 19th century playbill, printed in black ink on acid-stained paper with line illustrations by George Sheringham of a wreath labelled 'WITH LOVE TO NIGEL', a bouquet labelled 'WITH LOVE TO MAY', a bed captioned 'SEVICEABLE BED FOR CONCUBINE', Mrs Lanchester and Mr Scott at a grand piano, a bunch of grapes, a lion surrounded by industrial buildings captioned 'LION (FROM THE NORTH)' symbolising Arnold Bennett, and an 18th-century figure holding a banner inscribed 'HAMMERSMITH FOR EVER (AND LOVAT)'. Some of the illustrations are hand-coloured in blue and red watercolour. The playbill advertises a series of spoof entertainments including 'A Nice Read in Bed, or The Concubine Neglected', appearances by Mrs. Lanchester, Mr. Scott and Mr. A Bennett, and a piece entitled 'Sir Nigel's Nightmare, or the Mutiny Against Macheath'.
Dimensions
  • Height: 62.8cm
  • Width: 25.3cm
Credit line
Given by Beryl Playfair
Object history
Printed for a party to commemorate the tenth year of Sir Nigel Playfair's management of the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith. The text of the playbill includes comic references to actors, staff and productions at the theatre under Nigel Playfair, and notes that: 'After the Diversion there will be dancing , drinking, and miscellaneous devilry. Mr. Bloom has consented to be present, and will give advice upon acting for a nominal fee. Mr. Horne will tell misfortunes in the Box Office. Mr Reynolds and Mr Herbert have promised not to sing. Mr. Filmer will lecture on Tchekov at the bar. The evening was called 'A Grand Diversion' for the entertainment of Sir Nigel, 'and for the comfort and joy of his sweet lady May'.
Associations
Literary references
  • A Nice Read in Bed
  • Kate in the Call Box or, the Sailor's Farewell
  • Sir Nigel's Nightmare or the Mutiny Against Macheath
Summary
Printed poster in the form of a 19th century playbill with illustrations by George Sheringham designed for the 10th anniversary celebrations of Sir Nigel Playfair's management of the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith. The Poster advertises 'A Grand Diversion' of entertainment including performances of A Nice Read in Bed, Kate in the Call Box or, the Sailor's Farewell and Sir Nigel's Nightmare or the Mutiny Against Macheath on Sunday 27th Hanuary 1929. Printed in Westminster by The Miles Press.
Collection
Accession number
S.48-2003

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Record createdApril 4, 2005
Record URL
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