The Theatrical Garden Party, held in the Royal Botanic Gardens in London's Regent's Park from 3pm to 7pm, was a high-profile fundraising event in aid of the Actors' Orphanage Fund, a charity that housed orphaned children of actors and actresses. An annual event since 1906, the lavish garden party attracted crowds of patrons and donors to a range of attractions, each available foran extra fee, including fortune telling, a Palais de Dance, performances in the 'Theatre Royal Grand Giggle', maypole dancing, roulette, and music by the band of the Royal Military School of Music, with the chance to buy teas provided by Fortnum and Mason's for one and sixpence, and meet theatrical stars who sold autographs and raffle tickets, and performed in honour of a worthy cause.

In 1914 the party was organised by the actor Gerald du Maurier (1888-1968), one of the vice-presidents of the charity along with other distinguished performers including Ellen Terry, Lady Bancroft and Sir Herbert Beerbohm-Tree. Anslow J. Austin, husband of the pantomime principalboy Constance Hyem, was the organising secretary, with twenty more actors on the executive committee. The cover illustration for the 1914 programme was desiged by the young artist Paul Shelving (1888-1968) who went on to become a prolific theatre designer for over forty years.