Not currently on display at the V&A

The Pirates of Penzance

Silk Programme
1879 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Gilbert and Sullivan, keen to follow the success of H.M.S. Pinafore, presented The Pirates of Penzance in both England and America at the same time. Its New York premiere for which this programme was produced, was conducted by Arthur Sullivan himself. To protect the British copyright of the work, the production was staged the day before at the Royal Bijou Theatre, Paignton, England and was eventually run at the Opera Comique in London for 363 performances.

The Fifth Avenue Theatre was built in 1868 and was demolished in 1939. The theatre was well-known for hosting the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, premiering H. M. S. Pinafore as well as The Pirates of Penzance under the manager and lessee John T. Ford.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Pirates of Penzance (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Printed silk
Brief description
Silk programme for The Pirates of Penzance, Fifth Avenue Theatre, New York, 1879
Physical description
Purple silk programme with black typography mounted on cream cardboard.
Dimensions
  • Height: 24.4cm (Note: unmounted)
  • Width: 18.2cm (Note: unmounted)
  • Height: 26.5cm (Note: mounted)
  • Width: 21.2cm (Note: mounted)
Marks and inscriptions
Transliteration
Credit line
Given by Dame Bridget D'Oyly Carte
Object history
This silk programme was produced for the American premiere on 31st December 1879 of The Pirates of Penzance; or, the Slave of Duty staged at Fifth Avenue Theatre, New York City. This was part of the fifth week of the Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Season by the D'Oyly Carte London Opera Company.

The cast was led by Mr. Brocolini as Richard, a Pirate Chief and Mr. Hugh Talbot as Frederic a Pirate's Apprentice. The costumes were made by Madame Latreille of Paris, Madame Alias and Mr Nathan of London, from designs by Faustin. The dresses were made by Messrs. Bloom of New York.

Associations
Summary
Gilbert and Sullivan, keen to follow the success of H.M.S. Pinafore, presented The Pirates of Penzance in both England and America at the same time. Its New York premiere for which this programme was produced, was conducted by Arthur Sullivan himself. To protect the British copyright of the work, the production was staged the day before at the Royal Bijou Theatre, Paignton, England and was eventually run at the Opera Comique in London for 363 performances.

The Fifth Avenue Theatre was built in 1868 and was demolished in 1939. The theatre was well-known for hosting the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, premiering H. M. S. Pinafore as well as The Pirates of Penzance under the manager and lessee John T. Ford.
Other number
THM/73/34 - Archive number
Collection
Accession number
S.578-2016

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Record createdOctober 11, 2016
Record URL
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