Not currently on display at the V&A

Theatrical contract

Contract
17 March 1894 (signing)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Cinderella was Wallace Revill’s seventh annual pantomime as manager of the Theatre Royal, Leicester. This contract is for the employment of Lily Tuplin in the title role; Tuplin was a popular music hall actress and singer, who had been performing on stage since the age of eight. Her performance in the production was described in reviews from The Era newspaper as “…a graceful Cinderella, whose skirt dancing is much admired”. As in contemporary pantomime, 19th century pantomime incorporated current fads and trends, such as this skirt dancing routine.

The production also included a celebrity cameo in the person of Lillie Langtry. She played the role of Fairy Diamond, Cinderella’s bestower of wishes. Langtry was a highly successful actress in this country and the USA, and would have been a big draw to this production.

Although the costumes for this production were claimed to be designed by Mrs Revill, the manager’s wife, this contract specifies that Miss Tuplin will supply her own ‘boots, tights, wigs and dresses’.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleTheatrical contract (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Letterpress and woodcut print, with manuscript on paper
Brief description
Contract between Wallace Revill, proprietor of the Theatre Royal, Leicester, and Lily Tuplin, who is engaged to play Cinderella.
Physical description
Printed contract with manuscript regarding arrangements for Lilly Tuplin playing the role of Cinderella, in the Theatre Royal Leicester's 1894 pantomime.
Dimensions
  • Height: 33.5cm
  • Width: 21.25cm
Gallery label
Actor’s contract 1894 This contract is for Lily Tuplin to play Cinderella at the Theatre Royal Leicester. Tuplin was a music-hall performer who had been appearing on stage from the age of eight. She had played Cinderella the previous year in Sheffield, in a show that ran for 14 weeks. Her wage was £8 a week. Letterpress, woodcut and ink Museum no. S.420-1985
Subject depicted
Summary
Cinderella was Wallace Revill’s seventh annual pantomime as manager of the Theatre Royal, Leicester. This contract is for the employment of Lily Tuplin in the title role; Tuplin was a popular music hall actress and singer, who had been performing on stage since the age of eight. Her performance in the production was described in reviews from The Era newspaper as “…a graceful Cinderella, whose skirt dancing is much admired”. As in contemporary pantomime, 19th century pantomime incorporated current fads and trends, such as this skirt dancing routine.

The production also included a celebrity cameo in the person of Lillie Langtry. She played the role of Fairy Diamond, Cinderella’s bestower of wishes. Langtry was a highly successful actress in this country and the USA, and would have been a big draw to this production.

Although the costumes for this production were claimed to be designed by Mrs Revill, the manager’s wife, this contract specifies that Miss Tuplin will supply her own ‘boots, tights, wigs and dresses’.
Collection
Accession number
S.420-1985

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Record createdFebruary 27, 2008
Record URL
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