Poster advertising the Revue Splinters, Kennington Theatre, 15 September 1919
Poster
1919 (printed)
1919 (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Les Rouges et Noirs was formed by members of the British army serving in France during the First World War in response to a call from Lord Horne, Commander of the First Army, in 1917, for a touring concert party from among his troops. So-called because of the regimental colours of the First Army, the troupe entertained fellow soldiers in the trenches of France and Belgium. Not wanting an all-male revue, the troupe included a chorus of women played by soldiers, but the genuinely feminine appearance of the 'Beauty Chorus' meant that it did not come across as a drag show, but as a heterosexual concert party with an intriguing element. The revue title Splinters was chosen to describe the various sketches, songs and dances which made up their programme.
In December 1918 Les Rouges et Noirs was called by the War Office to appear in London and played a three-day engagement at the Canadian YMCA's Beaver Hut Theatre in London's Strand, followed by a Command Performance at Windsor Castle for George V and Queen Mary. The troupe returned to France in 1919, and after hostilities ended appeared in London's West End in June and August 1919 and toured new versions of the revue commercially throughout the British Isles until 1924.
In December 1918 Les Rouges et Noirs was called by the War Office to appear in London and played a three-day engagement at the Canadian YMCA's Beaver Hut Theatre in London's Strand, followed by a Command Performance at Windsor Castle for George V and Queen Mary. The troupe returned to France in 1919, and after hostilities ended appeared in London's West End in June and August 1919 and toured new versions of the revue commercially throughout the British Isles until 1924.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Poster advertising the Revue <i>Splinters</i>, Kennington Theatre, 15 September 1919 |
| Materials and techniques | Printed paper |
| Brief description | Poster advertising the Revue Splinters presented by Les Rouges et Noirs, The First Army Entertainers, at the Kennington Theatre, for the week beginning the 15th September 1919, transferred from the Savoy Theatre. Printed by Haycock & Cadle Ltd., Camberwell, 1919. |
| Physical description | Typographic poster printed in black and red letterpress on cream paper with a half-tone image of 'The Beauty Chorus' in a roundel, advertising the revue Splinters performed by the army entertainers Les Rouges at Noirs, Kennington Theatre, London, week beginning Monday 15 September 1919, 'transferred in its Entirety from the Savoy Theatre'. KENNINGTON and THE REVUE SPLINTERS in red uppercase lettering, with black lettering for the other information, including: '16 Soldiers and Every Soldier an Artiste' and the information that 'The Beauties of Bethune' challenge comparison with the most highly-salaried beauty choruses of the day, although they are recruited from members of Her Majesty's Army. The edges have suffered a few tears and areas of paper loss, especially along the top and bottom edges. The poster features the name of the theatre owner Ernest C. Rolls and the fact that he is presenting the revue by arrangement with Gilbert Miller. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mrs D.K. Richards |
| Object history | Historical significance: During World War II, Béthune, near Calais, was an important centre behind the British front, being a railway junction, headquarters location, hospital and billeting town. Aproximately 3,000 British casualties are buried in the Béthune Town Cemetery. |
| Association | |
| Summary | Les Rouges et Noirs was formed by members of the British army serving in France during the First World War in response to a call from Lord Horne, Commander of the First Army, in 1917, for a touring concert party from among his troops. So-called because of the regimental colours of the First Army, the troupe entertained fellow soldiers in the trenches of France and Belgium. Not wanting an all-male revue, the troupe included a chorus of women played by soldiers, but the genuinely feminine appearance of the 'Beauty Chorus' meant that it did not come across as a drag show, but as a heterosexual concert party with an intriguing element. The revue title Splinters was chosen to describe the various sketches, songs and dances which made up their programme. In December 1918 Les Rouges et Noirs was called by the War Office to appear in London and played a three-day engagement at the Canadian YMCA's Beaver Hut Theatre in London's Strand, followed by a Command Performance at Windsor Castle for George V and Queen Mary. The troupe returned to France in 1919, and after hostilities ended appeared in London's West End in June and August 1919 and toured new versions of the revue commercially throughout the British Isles until 1924. |
| Associated objects | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.84-2008 |
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| Record created | May 1, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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