Silk programme produced for Les Cloches de Corneville written and arranged for the English stage by H.B. Farnie and R. Reece, Globe Theatre, 31 August 1878, starring Shiel Barry and Kate Munroe, preceded by The Happy Man, also starring Shiel Barry and Kate Chorley. Letterpress on silk.

Silk programme, landscape format, divided into two 'pages', black typography on cream silk with integral cream fringe all round. Produced for 'the oriental musical extravaganza' The Happy Man with music by Planquette, written and arranged for the English stage by H.B. Farnie and R. Reece, followed by the comic opera Les Cloches de Corneville, written and arranged for the English stage by H.B. Farnie and R. Reece, Globe Theatre, 31 August 1878. Headed 'GLOBE THEATRE, Licensed by the Lord Chamberlain to Mr. Fairlie, Lessee and Manager, Newcastle Street, Strand. Under the direction of Mr. Alex Henderson, Stage Manager Mr. H.B. Farnie'. The right side of the programme is mostly occupied with a description of the acts and scenes of Les Cloches de Corneville.

Given by Antony Collieu on behalf of Charles Lepper

The Happy Man was described as an 'Oriental Musical Extravaganza' with new music composed for the revival by Mr. E. Solomon, who is credited as the Musical Director. Its cast comprised Mr. C. Ashford as Ram Rusti, Mr. Davenport as Foxi-Fum, Mr. W.S. Craven as Ski-Hi, Mr. G. Rae as Run Phaster, Master Steyne as Go Slower, Mr Shiel Barry as Paddy Murphy, Miss Denman as Ko Ket, Miss Kate Chorley as Sing Smahl and Mesdames Somerville, Young, Merwood, Laners, Weatherby, Newton, Herbert, Taylor, Miller, Chorley, Cole, and Messrs Adams, Nolan, Mervini and Reeves as Ladies of the Court, Palanquin Bearers, Guards Etc.

Les Cloches de Corneville with music by Planquette, was written and adapted for the English stage by H.B. Farnie and R. Reese. The cast comprised Mr. Wilford Morgan as Henri, Marquis de Corneville, Mr. Frederic Darrell as Jean Grenicheux, Mr. E. Marshall as the Bailie of Corneville, Mr. C. Ashford as Gobo, Clerk of the Court, Mr. Shiel Barry as Gaspard, Miss Laura Clement as Germaine, Miss Kate Munroe as Serpolette, Miss Denman as Jeanne, Miss Clara Graham as Catherine, Miss Avondale as Manette, Miss Browning as Susanne, Miss Stanley as Yvonne, Miss Evelyn as Lucette, Miss Thomas as Claire, and Miss May Tudor as Christophe. The Girls of Corneville as Officers from the Ship were played by Mesdames Montelli, Taylor, Cole, Miller, Connell, Herbert, Young, Poletti, Evelyn, Chorley, Seymour, Lauri, Harcourt, Larder, Somerville, Naylor, Harwood, Weathersby, Avonel, Callaway, Clara, Harcourt, Wyvern, and the Rustics, Coachmen, Farm Servants and Sailors by Messrs. Perry, Felix, Adams, Hill, Wilson, Reeves, Mervini, Barron, Harding, Smith, Davenport and Nolan.

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 a performance of Les Cloches de Corneville adapted by H.B. Farnie and R. Reece from the original French version with music by Planquette, preceded by The Happy Man, described as an 'Oriental Musical Extravaganza'. Les Cloches de Corneville was a huge hit for its producer Alex Henderson, at the Folly Theatre where it had opened on 28 February 1878, and later at the Globe, where it was transferred on 31 August 1878.

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