Silk programme on cream silk in black typography. Produced for a performance of the comedy Naval Engagements!, the extravaganza Polkamania or, Dancing Mad, and the farce The Dead Shot!: 'By desire and under the patronage of R. Archibald Esq., Mayor, the Aldermen and Town Council, at the Theatre, Hereford, 8 September 1847. Letterpress. Printed by John Parker, 4, High Town, Hereford. Gift of the Palace Theatre Club, Westcliff

Cream silk printed in black letterpress, with minimal integral fringe on all sides.

Given by the Palace Theatre Club Westcliff

This silk programme was produced for the visit of the Mayor of Hereford, R. Archibald Esq., to the theatre, along with members of the Aldermen and the Town Council. The evening consisted of a performance of 'the petite comedy' Naval Engagements!, with W. H. Stephens as Admiral Kingston, T. W. Edmonds as Short, James Rogers as Lieutenant Kingston, R.N., Mrs. C. Lorton as Mrs. Pontifex, Mr. Manning as Dennis and Miss E. G. Scott as Miss Mortimer. Mr. Manning sang the comic song Yallar Busha Belle, followed by the 'Laughable Extravaganza' Polka Mania, or, Dancing Mad, in which James Rogers played Adolphus Wharton, W.H. Stephens played Mr. Dorrington, T.W. Edmonds played Jemmy, Miss E.G. Scott played Laura, and Mrs. C. Lorton played Susan. The evening ended with the Farce The Dead Shot! in which W.H. Stephens played Captain Cannon, Mr. Wolfenden played Frederick Thornton, T.W. Edmonds played Hector Timid, Mr. Manning played Wiseman, Mr. Poole played Williams, Mr. Fitzroberts played the Police Officer, Mrs. James Rogers played Louisa Lovetrick, and Miss E. G. Scott played Chatter. The stage manager was Mr. T. W. Edmonds, the Prompter Mr. Fitzroberts, the scene painter Mr. Mildenhall, and the band leader Mr. J. Nunn. Tickets could be bought from the Printer John Parker in High Town, and James Rogers, the Lessee of the theatre, at Mrs. Bevan's, Bridge Street.

This programme would have been produced in silk to mark the special occasion of the visit of the Worshipful Mayor of Hereford R. Archibald to the theatre which was managed by the theatre's Lessee James Rogers, who played Lieutenant Kingston in Naval Engagements!and Adolphus Wharton in Polkamania, or Dancing Mad in which he danced 'the fashionable Ball Room Polka' with Miss E. G. Scott. His wife played Louisa Lovetrick in the farce The Dead Shot! The programme included topical and fashionable elements including Mr. Manning's 'Ethiopian' comic song Get Along Black Man! Don't You Cum Nigh Me, or My Yaller Busha Belle, and the Polka, the dance sensation of the day.

All the theatre staff appear to have been necessarily versatile at Hereford theatre, as was the case at similar theatres at the time. The Stage Manager Mr. T.W. Edmonds played Short in Naval Engagements!, Jemmy in Polkamania, or Dancing Mad, and Hector Timid in The Dead Shot, while the Prompter Mr. Fitzroberts played the Police Officer in The Dead Shot!

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