Poster
1923 (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
London Calling! was Noel Coward's first musical revue to be produced in the West End, opening at the Duke of York's Theatre on 4 September 1923, and running for 367 performances. It comprised 25 sketches, topical skits and dance routines, and included choreography by Fred Astaire who was working in London's Shaftesbury Theatre with his sister Adele at the time. Astaire taught Coward tap-dancing at the nearby Guildhall School of Music for the production, which was famous for the shadow-dance sequence with which it opened.
Gertrude Lawrence, already famous as the West End's leading lady, made her singing debut in London Calling!, and her appearance in it cemented an association with Noel Coward's work that continued throughout their careers. The cast also included the 21 year old identical twins, the dancing double act The Dolores Sisters, who kept this poster as a souvenir.
Gertrude Lawrence, already famous as the West End's leading lady, made her singing debut in London Calling!, and her appearance in it cemented an association with Noel Coward's work that continued throughout their careers. The cast also included the 21 year old identical twins, the dancing double act The Dolores Sisters, who kept this poster as a souvenir.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Letterpress |
| Brief description | Poster advertising Andre Charlot's Revue London Calling! written by Ronald Jeans and Noel Coward, Duke of York's Theatre, 4 September 1923, featuring Noel Coward, Gertrude Lawrence, Maisie Gay, Tubby Edlin, and the Dolores Twins. |
| Physical description | Typographic, printed in orange, black and beige. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Dolores Albertina Blackham |
| Object history | The performers noted on the poster are Maisie Gay, Sybil Wise, Jill Williams, April Harmon, Wyn Clare, Gertrude Lawrence, Eileen Molyneux, Childs Brothers, Arthur Lowrie, Tubby Edlin, Dolores Twins, Winifred Satchell, Billy Fry, Tony Williams and Noel Coward. The book was by Ronald Jeans and Noel Coward, the lyrics and music by Noel Coward, additional numbers by Philip Braham and Sissie and Blake, costumes by Molyneux, scenery by Marc Henri and Laverdet, dances and ensembles by Douglas Ascot, staged by Herbert Mason, It was presented by Andre Charlot in association with Violet Melnotte. |
| Summary | London Calling! was Noel Coward's first musical revue to be produced in the West End, opening at the Duke of York's Theatre on 4 September 1923, and running for 367 performances. It comprised 25 sketches, topical skits and dance routines, and included choreography by Fred Astaire who was working in London's Shaftesbury Theatre with his sister Adele at the time. Astaire taught Coward tap-dancing at the nearby Guildhall School of Music for the production, which was famous for the shadow-dance sequence with which it opened. Gertrude Lawrence, already famous as the West End's leading lady, made her singing debut in London Calling!, and her appearance in it cemented an association with Noel Coward's work that continued throughout their careers. The cast also included the 21 year old identical twins, the dancing double act The Dolores Sisters, who kept this poster as a souvenir. |
| Other number | THM/292 - Archive number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.847-2012 |
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| Record created | September 4, 2012 |
| Record URL |
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