Not currently on display at the V&A

The Vokes New Set of Quadrilles

Sheet Music
ca.1875 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This music sheet for The Vokes New Set of Quadrilles: 'as danced by Vokes Family' and composed by W. C. Levey, is illustrated with photographs of Jessie Vokes (1848-1884) (top left); Rosina Vokes (1854-1894) (top right); Victoria Vokes (1850-1894) (centre); Fred Vokes (1846-1888) (bottom left), and Fawdon Vokes (1844-1904) (bottom right).

The acrobatic dancing and singing Vokes Family troupe was extremely popular in Drury Lane pantomimes in the 1870s. It comprised the eccentric 'legmania' or contortionist dancer Fred Vokes, his sisters Jessie, Rosina and Victoria, the children of Sarah Biddulph and the theatrical costumier Frederick Vokes - and the actor Walter Fawdon, who changed his name to Fawdon Vokes when 'adopted' as their brother and part of the act. They made their début at Christmas night in 1861 at Howard's Operetta House in Edinburgh and their London début at the Alhambra Theatre in 1862, billed as 'The Five Little Vokes'. They appeared in W.S. Gilbert's pantomime Harlequin Cock Robin and Jenny Wren at the Lyceum Theatre in 1867, and after their first Drury Lane pantomime engagement in 1869, appeared there every year until 1879 (except 1873 when they were touring abroad), taking all the principal parts. They made their Paris debut in August 1870 at the Théâtre du Châtelet and their New York debut at the Union Square Theatre in April 1872.



Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Vokes New Set of Quadrilles (published title)
Materials and techniques
Chromolithograph
Brief description
Music sheet for The Vokes New Set of Quadrilles sung by Vokes Family, composed by W. C. Levey, published by Cramer, Wood & Co. and Lamborn, Cock & Co., ca.1875
Physical description
Music sheet for The Vokes New Set of Quadrilles sung by Vokes Family, composed by W. C. Levey, published by Cramer, Wood & Co. and Lamborn, Cock & Co. Illustrated with photographs of members of the Vokes family
Dimensions
  • Front cover height: 31cm (approx)
  • Front cover width: 24.5cm
Credit line
Gabrielle Enthoven Collection
Subjects depicted
Association
Summary
This music sheet for The Vokes New Set of Quadrilles: 'as danced by Vokes Family' and composed by W. C. Levey, is illustrated with photographs of Jessie Vokes (1848-1884) (top left); Rosina Vokes (1854-1894) (top right); Victoria Vokes (1850-1894) (centre); Fred Vokes (1846-1888) (bottom left), and Fawdon Vokes (1844-1904) (bottom right).

The acrobatic dancing and singing Vokes Family troupe was extremely popular in Drury Lane pantomimes in the 1870s. It comprised the eccentric 'legmania' or contortionist dancer Fred Vokes, his sisters Jessie, Rosina and Victoria, the children of Sarah Biddulph and the theatrical costumier Frederick Vokes - and the actor Walter Fawdon, who changed his name to Fawdon Vokes when 'adopted' as their brother and part of the act. They made their début at Christmas night in 1861 at Howard's Operetta House in Edinburgh and their London début at the Alhambra Theatre in 1862, billed as 'The Five Little Vokes'. They appeared in W.S. Gilbert's pantomime Harlequin Cock Robin and Jenny Wren at the Lyceum Theatre in 1867, and after their first Drury Lane pantomime engagement in 1869, appeared there every year until 1879 (except 1873 when they were touring abroad), taking all the principal parts. They made their Paris debut in August 1870 at the Théâtre du Châtelet and their New York debut at the Union Square Theatre in April 1872.

Collection
Accession number
S.63-2014

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Record createdJanuary 10, 2014
Record URL
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