Formed in 1879 by Mr J Pollard, snr, and composed of members of the Pollard family. There were from 35 to 40 members in that company. They performed in New Zealand during 1881-1882, and again in 1883-1884, after which they disbanded. Members listed on a flyer at Eph-A-OPERA-1881?, included: Miss Maud Pollard aged 14, Master [Herbert] Salinger aged 13, Master Cornelius Osmond aged 13, Master J Sheean aged 12, Master A Goodwin aged 12, Master Ernest Osmond aged 11, Master Arthur Pollard aged 6, Master Wallen aged 9, Master Willie Pollard aged 9, Miss May Pollard aged 12, Miss Olvie Pollard aged 10, Miss Elena Salinger aged 10, Miss Wallen aged 11, and Miss Findly aged 12. Conductor and musical director at that time was Mr J J Pollard, and the leader of the orchestra was Mr C Pollard.
Pollard's Lilliputian Opera Troupe
[Ephemera and theatre programmes for performances of opera and light musicals in New Ze...
Date: 1880 - 1889
By: Haggett & Percy (Firm); Hughes, James, active 1868-1881; Bock & Cousins Lithographers (Firm); Brett Printing and Publishing Company Ltd; Evening Post (Wellington, N.Z.)
Reference: Eph-A-OPERA-1880s
Description: Includes programmes or flyers for the following performances: 1880s: Williamson, Garner & Musgrove's celebrated Royal Comic Opera Company. Audran's charming opera "La Mascotte". Opera House Wellington. Magnificent scenery by Gordon and Brunton. Williamson, Garner & Musgrove's celebrated Royal Comic Opera Company. "Patience, or Bunthorne's Bride". Opera House Wellington. Magnificent scenery by Gordon & Brunton. Bock & Co printers. Libretto of "Olivette!", comic opera in 3 acts, by H B Farnie; music composed by Audran. Published for use in Australian and NZ colonies by Musgrove's London Opera Comique Company. [1880s?] (donation PR-03-0058) 1880: Lyster's Royal Italian & English Opera. "Aida" and "Rose of Castile". Theatre Royal [Wellington], 24 February 1880. Lyster's Royal Italian & English Opera. "La favorita" and "La traviata". Theatre Royal Wellington, 26 February [1880]. Flier / programme. 1881: R W Cary's "Pirates of Penzance!" on their piratical tour of New Zealand. [Libretto]. Wellington, James Hughes, steam printer, engraver, etc, Lambton Quay, 1881. Pollard's Lilliputian Opera Troupe in the extraordinary opera of "The Lass that loved a sailor", or HMS Pinafore. Conductor and musical director Mr J J Pollard, Leader of the orchestra Mr C Pollard. [n.p., 1881?] Williamson's Royal Opera Company. "Patience or Bunthorne's bride". New aesthetic scenery painted by Mr Alfred Clint. Costumier Mr W Ford. 1881. Williamson's Royal Opera Company. "HMS Pinafore". Entirely new ship scenery by George Gordon. Post print, Wellington. 1882: Abbott's Opera House (Auckland). "La fille du Tambour Major", with notice of forthcoming productions of "Billee Taylor", "Patience, or Bunthorne's Bride" [1882?] Montague-Turner Grand English Opera. "Lucia de Lammermoor". Theatre Royal Wellington. 23 January [1882]. Theatre Royal (Wellington?). Last week of the Montague-Turner Grand English Opera. "Mignon!" this Monday 6 February. On Wednesday "Lucrezia Borgia"; on Thursday Benefit of Miss Annis Montague, a grand gala night; Friday and Saturday "The Royal Middy". Printed at the New Zealand Times, Wellington [Flier. 1882] Theatre Royal [Auckland]. "Guy Mannering". Amateur dramatic performance in aid of the Masonic Hall building fund. 29 August 1882. Printed by H Brett, "Evening star" office, Wyndham Street. 1884?: Comic opera "Rip van Winkle" in three acts. [Libretto with Wellington advertisements; no cover. Assumed to have been used during 1884 season performed by A T Dunning's London Comic Opera Company] Dunning's Opera Company. John Crook's spectacular military opera comique in 3 acts. "The King's dragoons". Auckland, H Brett, theatrical printer, Star Office. Libretto [This opera is known to have been performed in Napier in June 1884] 1885: Leading amateurs of New Plymouth under the direction of Mr G Garry. Gilbert & Sullivan's comic opera "Trial by jury!" (With L Humphries, Miss Hempton, Mr Holdsworth, Mr Rennell, F Humphries, Miss White, Miss Cliff, Mr Downes). Alexandra Hall, Wednesday July 29 [1885]. Programme. Printed at the "Daily news" Office, New Plymouth 1887 : Messr's Williamson, Garner & Musgrove's Royal Comic Opera Company. "The Mikado". General manager Mr R S Smythe. Scenery by Mr George Gordon. Bock & Cousins, Printers, Brandon Street. [1887?] 1888-1889: "Marjorie", comic opera in three acts. Libretto by Lewis Clifton & J J Dilley; music by Walter Slaughter. Prince of Wales Theatre [ca 1888-1889]. Liretto (2 slightly differing) 1889: Martin Simonsen's New Royal English and Italian Opera Company. "Il trovatore". [Theatre Royal Wellington, September 1889]. Libretto. Haggett & Percy, Printers, Lambton Quay. St John Ambulance Association. Grand costume concert; selections from popular operas: Favart, Iolanthe, Mikado, Patience, Sorcerer. Conductor F M Wallace, Hon Manager J J Kinsey, Hon Secretary F Notley meadows. Christchurch Theatre Royal, 19-20 July 1889. Programme and book of words. Quantity: 20 programmes / flyers. Physical Description: Programmes and flyers, sizes ranging under 250 mm. Provenance: One programme donated in 2002 by Paul Orsman, Holmes estate; two libretti by Mrs Margaret Hancock, Tokoroa, in 2009.
Nola Millar - Research material on history of theatre re Pollard Lilliputian Opera Bouf...
Date: [1880s]
From: New Theatre : Records
Reference: 77-244-5/08
Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).