Silk Programme
1895 (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Silk and satin theatre playbills and programmes were produced from the 18th century onwards, to commemorate special performances at the theatre. They were presented to patrons in the most expensive seats as a luxurious souvenir. This may well have been produced for the first night of Trilby at London's Theatre Royal Haymarket on Wednesday 30th October 1895. The play was adapted from the best-selling novel of the same name by George Du Maurier and had previously been seen for a try-out run at the Theatre Royal Manchester, where it had opened on 7th September 1895.
The cast printed on this playbill is the same as that advertised in The Times the previous day. Later in the run, which lasted until 27 May 1896, the role of Little Billee was played by H.V. Esmond.. Herbert Beerbohm Tree and Dorothea Baird both became celebrated for their characters Svengali and Trilby O'Farrell, and as owner of the theatre, director of the play and star actor, Trilby also made Herbert Beerbohm Tree a very sizeable profit.
The cast printed on this playbill is the same as that advertised in The Times the previous day. Later in the run, which lasted until 27 May 1896, the role of Little Billee was played by H.V. Esmond.. Herbert Beerbohm Tree and Dorothea Baird both became celebrated for their characters Svengali and Trilby O'Farrell, and as owner of the theatre, director of the play and star actor, Trilby also made Herbert Beerbohm Tree a very sizeable profit.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Printed silk |
| Brief description | Silk programme on cream silk in black typography with large cream fringe applied all round. Produced for an unspecified performance of Trilby, but possibly for its first night, Theatre Royal Haymarket, 30th October 1895. |
| Physical description | Cream silk playbill edged on each side with a wide cream silk fringe. The playbill is printed in black ink with a crown emblem, the name of the theatre and the lessee, Herbert Beerbohm Tree, the cast details, the scenes, the programme of music and the names of some of the theatre staff , within an oblong border. The name of the printer appears below the border at the foot of the programme. The cast for this performance appears as: Herbert Beerbohm Tree as Svengali, Edmund Maurice as Talbot Wynne, Lionel Brough as Alexander McAlister, Patrick Evans as William Bagot (Little Billee), C.M. Ballard as Gecko, Herbert Ross as Zouzou, Gerald Du Maurier as Dodor, Berte Thomas as Oliver, Gayer Mackay as Lorimer, Charles Allam as Reverend Thomas Bagot, Holman Clark as Manager Kew, Dorothea Baird as Trilby O'Farrell, Frances Ivor as Mrs. Bagot, Rosina Filippi as Mme. Vinard, Cicily Turner as Angèle, Agnes Russell as Honorine, Olive Owen as Mimi and Sadie Wigley as Musette. The programme credits 'Dances arranged by Mr.John Dauban, Stage Manager Mr Shelton, Musical Director Mr Raymond Roze and Business Manager Fitzroy Gardner.' |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Silk and satin theatre playbills and programmes were produced from the 18th century onwards, to commemorate special performances at the theatre. They were presented to patrons in the most expensive seats as a luxurious souvenir. This may well have been produced for the first night of Trilby at London's Theatre Royal Haymarket on Wednesday 30th October 1895. The play was adapted from the best-selling novel of the same name by George Du Maurier and had previously been seen for a try-out run at the Theatre Royal Manchester, where it had opened on 7th September 1895. The cast printed on this playbill is the same as that advertised in The Times the previous day. Later in the run, which lasted until 27 May 1896, the role of Little Billee was played by H.V. Esmond.. Herbert Beerbohm Tree and Dorothea Baird both became celebrated for their characters Svengali and Trilby O'Farrell, and as owner of the theatre, director of the play and star actor, Trilby also made Herbert Beerbohm Tree a very sizeable profit. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.415-2006 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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