Silk programme produced for Harmston's Grand Circus and Royal Menagerie of Wild Performing Animals, Madras, Tuesday 26 December 1905. Antony Hippisley Coxe Collection.

Emerald green silk programme with integral fringe top and bottom, printed in gold ink within a decorative border with the programme of Harmston's Grand Circus and Royal Menagerie of Wild Performing Animals for a Special Command Night in Madras, Tuesday 26th December 1905. The programme features a royal crest and notes the presence of Lord and Lady Ampthill & Suite, & The Officers & Sailors of 'H.M.S. Renown'. The programme lists the acts: The Brothers Durwal, Champion Gymnasts on Five Horizontal Bars, Performing Elephant 'Babe' Introduced by her Trainer, Marvellous Double Somersault Act by W. Harmston-Love, Clowns Guillame and Baby, Indian Club Swinging & Juggling by Alfred Clark, Cake Walk by the Quartette Florrie, Violet, Wally & Adolph, Potpourri Act by Nellie Harmston-Love on her Australian Pony 'Beauty', Chinese Acrobats by the Bugny Brothers & W. Alton, a Comic Entrée by Adolph Delbosq and W. Harvard, Four Jockey Acts by John Frederick Clarke, Alfred Clarke, A. Clarke and W. Harmston-Love, Introducing for the first time in the East four men riding a Single Horse, The Wheelers in their Champion Trick Bicycle Act introducing their Marvellous somersault over a Dining Table, The Do-re-Mi-Duo by Guillame (sic) and Baby in their Eccentric Musical Act, an Oriental Dance by Mdlle Marguerite, Double juggling on horseback by Alfred and John Frederick Clarke, Revolving Ladder by the Pedro Brothers, Clown Pony 'Nelly' introduced by Alphonse Bugny, after which Captain Lindo will attempt to enter the Den of the Untameable Forest-Bred Lion. The programme notes the Special Holiday Matinees on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.
At the bottom it notes the management Madame Harmston-Love, Proprietress; Chas Bruce, Band Master; Captain Lindo, Animal Trainer; Robert Love, Sole Manager; Alf. Ryan, Stud Groom; R. Alton, Advance Representative.

Antony Hippisley Coxe Collection

Silk and satin theatre playbills and programmes were produced from the 18th century onwards to commemorate special evenings at the theatre. Most theatres and some circuses in the 19th century had some made to mark grand openings or milestone performances. By the end of the First World War however the practice had generally died out, only being revived very occasionally, more often at London's opera houses than any other theatres.

Harmston's Circus opened in Madras on Saturday December 13th 1905, having sailed from Rangoon on 7th December. They stayed until 6th January 1906 when they left for Bombay. This programme was produced as a souvenir of the performance of Harmston's Circus in Madras on 26th December because of the presence of Lord & Lady Ampthill. Lord Ampthill was Governor of Madras from 1901 to 1906.

Harmston's Circus was founded by the Nottingham-born equestrian William Batty Harmston (1844-1893). After working with Chiarini's circus in India in 1887, he formed his own circus which toured Australia 1890-1891. After his death in Singapore, his widow carried on the circus with the manager Robert Love, who she married and whose surname can be seen on this programme added to her name and that of her children.

S.15-2007