Silk programme for The Yeomen of the Guard, D'Oyly Carte Company, Theatre Royal Jersey, 29th July to 1st August 1889

Fringed cream silk programme with black typography mounted on cream cardboard.

Given by Dame Bridget D'Oyly Carte

This silk programme was produced for the 25th summer season of the Theatre Royal, Jersey, 1889. Under the management of Mr. Wybert Rousby, the theatre staged the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company's touring production of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Yeomen of the Guard, or the Merryman and his Maid.

The cast was led by Mr T. Redmond as Sir Richard Cholmondeley and Mr. Charles Rose as Colonel Fairfax. Sergeant Meryll was played by Mr. Herbert Marchmont, Leonard Merryl by Mr. Percy Charles, Jack Point by Mr. Cairns James, Wilfred Shadbolt by Mr. Edward Clowes, The Headsman by Mr. C. Barnard, Else Maynard by Miss Jessie Moore, Phoebe Merryl by Miss Kate Forster, Dame Carruthers by Miss Kate Talby, and Kate by Miss Rose de Waldeck. The backdrop cloth of the Tower of London was painted by Mr. Bruce Smith, the costumes were designed by Mr. Percy W. Anderson and made by Madame Leon of the Savoy and M. Barthe. The wigs were by Clarkson, the choreography by Mr. John D'Auban and the properties by Mr. H. Sheldon. For Mr. D'Oyly Carte's company Mr. James Sydney was the manager, Mr. Mozart Wilson the conductor, Mr. R. Weathersby the stage manager, and Mr. William Dale the advance agent.

A note on the programme announces the production of The Grip of Iron!, or, the Stranglers of Paris on Bank Holiday Monday, 5th August, and that arrangements had been made for The Pastoral Players' production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and for Miss Kate Vaughan and Company from the Gaiety Theatre to appear during the season.

The Theatre Royal, Jersey hosted one of the D'Oyly Carte Opera's touring Companies under the enterprising skills of owner William Wybert Rousby. Purchasing the theatre in 1868 after acting under previous manager Henry Cornwall (who built the theatre in 1865), Rousby introduced a varied programme of comedy, drama, farce and grand and comic opera. The theatre had already hosted the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1880 and 1882 for their productions of H.M.S. Pinafore and Patience, respectively.

Every new opera by Gilbert and Sullivan opera was a hugely popular event in London, and Richard D'Oyly Carte ensured nation-wide exposure to their works by touring them around the country with specially-formed touring companies. The Yeomen of the Guard had opened at the Savoy Theatre on 3rd October 1888 and was still running there successfully when this touring company took it to Jersey in summer 1889.

S.576-2016