Silk programme produced for the first performance of The Naval Cadets starring Violet Cameron, Selina Dolaro and Harry Paulton, with music by Richard Genee, preceded by The Happy Man, Globe Theatre, 27 March 1880. Letterpress on silk.

Silk programme on cream silk with gold metallic fringe attached, printed in blue typography in landscape format, headed 'GLOBE THEATRE, Under the Management of Mr. Alexander Henderson'. Giving the cast of the curtain-raiser, the 'Oriental Musical Extravaganza' The Happy Man and of The Naval Cadets with music by Richard Genee, starring Violet Cameron, Selina Dolaro and Harry Paulton. The right-hand side of the programme details the scenery and incidents of The Naval Cadets. The Acting Manager is credited as Mr. R. D'Albertson. Produced for the first performance in England of The Naval Cadets.

Given by Antony Collieu on behalf of Charles Lepper.

The Naval Cadetsis described as the 'celebrated opera comique' with music composed by Richard Genee. The cast comprised Violet Cameron as Inez Maria Estrella, Miss Emma Chambers as Dolores, Mdme. Selina Dolaro as Cerisette, Mons. Loredan as Don Fiorio, Messrs Wilson, Hill, Savidge and Reeves as Don Miguel, Don Luis, Don Pedro and Don Pascal, W.E. Gregory as Januario, Mr. Mitchell as Garlic, Denbeigh Newton as Don Mauritio, Mr. Baron as Paz, Mr. Morganti as Vaz, Miss Katie Abrahams as Guava, Miss Harwood as Sebastiano, Misses Kate Poletti & Montellias Gomez and Gonsalvez, Clara Graham as Carlos, Ruth Avondale, M. Sharp and Miss Kate Chorley as Vasquez, Ferdinand and Vespuccio, Mesdames Newton, Thomas. Calaway, Duval, Temple, Herbert, Pilling, Payne, Valroy, Cole, Fioretta and Avonell as The School, Mesdames Lander, P. Thornton, F. Thornton, L. Fellinger, R. Fellinger, A. Poletti, Miller, Stockwell, Clive, Taylor Wethersby and Beaumont as Maids of Honor and Messrs Morris Perry, King, Felix and Nolan as Soldiers of the Watch, Sailors of the Fleet, &c.

The Happy Man cast comprised Mr. Wilton as Ram Rusti, Mr. Davenport as Foxi-Fum, Mr. W.S. Craven as Ski-Hi, Mr. G. Rae as Rum Phaster, Master Steyne as Go Slower, Mr. Shiel Barry as Paddy Murphy, Miss Clara Graham as Ko Ket, Miss Kate Chorley as Sing Smahl. The Ladies of the Court, Palanquin Bearers, Guards Etc., were played by Mesdames Somerville, Young, Harwood, Laners. Wethersby, Newton, Herbert, Taylor, Miller, Chorley, Cole, and Messrs. Adams, Nolan, Mervini and Reeves.

Silk and satin theatre playbills and programmes were produced from the 18th century onwards, to commemorate special evenings at the theatre. Most theatres in the 19th century would have 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.

This silk programme was produced for the opening in England of The Naval Cadets by Richard Genee at the Globe Theatre, 27 March 1880. The lessee of the theatre, Alexander Henderson, had also been lessee of the Criterion and Folly Theatres but had disposed of the Criterion lease early in 1879 to Charles Wyndham, and that of the Folly to Selina Dolaro who played Cerisette in The Naval Cadetsat the Globe.

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