[Theatre programmes for music-hall, comedy, cabaret and variety shows in Britain, featuring New Zealanders. 1800-1999].

Includes promotional cards for Mr Copping (no New Zealand connection known):

1855:

Royal Grecian, City Road (Proprietor B O Conquest). Mr Copping's annual benefit. Thursday March 22, 1855. (With portrait of Mr Copping)

Great National Standard Theatre, Shoreditch (Proprietor Mr John Douglass). For the benefit of Mr Copping, Thursday March 19, 1857. Sixpenny ticket for pit.

Includes programmes for:

1925:

Nottingham Empire. Moss Empires Ltd. Variety programme 4 May 1925. Programme (Joe Brennan, "the New Zealand comedian")

1926:

The Victoria Palace. Miss Clarice Mayne, Wilkie Bard, The Victoria Girls, Gillie Potter, The Dawn Sisters, the Flying Winskills, Louie Louise. 29 March 1926. Programme (No known NZ connection)

1927:

"Shake your feet". London Hippodrome, 20 July 1927. Programme

1931:

Al-Wright's screaming comedy Circus. Her Majesty's Theatre Walsall, 6 April 1931. Programme (Barnes & O'Donnell, New Zealand's acrobatic comedians)

1933:

Coliseum programme, commencing Monday February 27th, 1933. Programme (Keith Wilbur as "Just a New Zealander")

1935:

Birmingham Hippodrome programme, commencing 22 April 1935. Programme (Lance Fairfax)

1936:

Charles B Cochran's 1936 revue "Follow the sun". Adelphi Theatre 1936. Programme (Lance Fairfax)

"O-Kay for sound". London Palladium, 2 November 1936. Programme (Lance Fairfax)

1940:

Palace of Varieties, County Theatre Reading. Programme (Keith Wilbur, international radio artiste in "Just a New Zealander")

1943:

"Scotch & Splash". Aston Hippodrome Birmingham, 22 March 1943. Programme (Iris Day (Edmonds))

1948:

Chiswick Empire Theatre. Variety show presented by Bernard Delfont. 26 April 1948. Programme (Ewen Solon)

1951:

"Bonsoir mesdames". Wood Green Empire, 17 September 1951. Programme (John Guest)

"Bon Soir Mesdames". Empire Theatre Nottingham, 30 July 1951. Programme (John Guest)

1953:

Palace Theatre Morecambe presents Heldy Claxton's "Gaytime". Souvenir programme (Valerie Gray and Arthur Downes)

1953 or 1959?:

"Fun and the fair". London Palladium, Wednesday October 7th. Programme (John Hauxvell)

1954:

"Light fantastic". King's Theatre Hammersmith. 22 July 1954. Programme (Phillipa Reid)

1955 or 1960?:

"Ocean revue". Ocean Theatre, Clacton Pier, [1955?]. Programme (Peter Crago)

1956:

Circus a la Moscow. Hippodrome, Derby, 21 May 1956. Programme (Roy Mack)

1958:

"For amusement only". Theatre Royal Nottingham, 22 September 1958. Programme (Vivienne Martin)

ca 1960?:

"Cavalcade of Commonwealth", presented by the Joint Commonwealth Societies. Devised and directed by Richard Campion. London, ca 1960?. Programme (2 copies) (Other New Zealanders taking part were Diana Baxendale, Denise le Compte, Hilary Debden-Wilkins, Trilby Sandhan, Valerie Deakin, Michael Cotterill, Edith Campion, Anna and Jane Campion; stage director Kenneth Adams; also Margaret Leamey, Noeline Pritchard)

1960s:

Jack Billing Ltd present "Summer spectacular". Pavilion Rhyl, 1960s? Programme (Peter Crago)

1963:

"Round Leicester Square". Prince Charles Theatre, 28 April 1963. Programme (Vivienne Martin)

1964:

"The good old days". Nottingham Playhouse, 30 March 1964. Programme (Vivienne Martin)

1967:

City Variety Leeds. "The Latin Quarter peep show". Week commencing 10 April 1967. Programme (Tui Alba)

"The Bouquets". The glamorous summer show. Esplanade Theatre Bognor Regis, 17 June 1967. Programme (2 copies) (Bette Gilmore)

1969:

"Dick Whittington". Watford Palace Theatre, 20 December 1969 - 17 january 1970. programme (Jack Gunn)

1971:

"A little of what you fancy". Hampstead Theatre Club, 16 August [1971]. Programme (Bette Gilmore, David O'Brien)

1973:

"Mother Goose". Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House, 19 December 1973. Programme (Louise Pajo)

1974:

Max Bygraves Show. Theatre Royal Nottingham, 5 October 1974. Programme (Denise Keene and Happy Tenana)

Max Bygraves Show. Theatre Royal Nottingham, 11 May 1974. Programme (Denise Keene and Happy Tenana)

Max Bygraves Show. Programme (Denise Keene and Happy Tenana)

Paul Raymond's Royalty Folies [sic]. Royalty Theatre, London [1974]. Programme (Jack Gunn)(2 copies)

1983:

"The two Ronnies". London Palladium, March 1983. Programme (Ed Fardell, sound designer)

1993:

Players' Theatre presents Victorian Music Hall. Thorndike Theatre, 6-11 December 1993. Programme (Peter Sutherland)

1997:

"Tales from the Triangle"; a weekend of stories and songs for adults and children. Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery, Fife. Programme (Mike Paterson)

Quantity: 30 programmmes. 2 promotional cards.

Physical Description: Offset print on programmes, sizes below 250 mm.

Provenance: Some programmes donated by the Theatre Museum, London, in 2003; some purchased from Louise Grant, dealer London, in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017.