A small archive of programmes for amateur theatrical performances and music concerts in Perth, Western Australia, 1873-1883.

This important group of thirteen programmes can be regarded as a time capsule of amateur theatrical and musical performance in Perth, Western Australia in the 1870s and early 1880s. A number of the programmes in this archive appear to be completely unrecorded, and are quite possibly unique survivors.

These highly ephemeral printings date from a time before there was any homegrown professional theatre in Western Australia (the first purpose-built professional theatre in Perth, the Theatre Royal, did not open until 1897). They significantly predate the gold rushes of the 1890s, which saw a huge influx of population into Western Australia and resultant boom in popular entertainments.

Perusing the names of the many amateur thespians, scenery artists, musicians and singers who voluntarily participated in these productions, we are struck by the recurrence of surnames belonging to such illustrious Western Australian families as Lefroy, Leake, Prinsep, Hamersley, Forrest and Fraser. Indeed, the archive offers enormous scope for potential research not only into the history of colonial theatre and music, but also the Western Australian social elite prior to the gold rushes.

Provenance: UK trade, ex UK private collection. All of these programmes were originally contained in a nineteenth-century commonplace album and were clearly collected by a British immigrant in Western Australia in the 1870s-80s. Note: A clue to the identity of the original collector of these programmes (and also therefore to the album’s compiler) is perhaps to be found in the fact that virtually every one of the programmes features at least one member of the Wilkinson family as a cast member: Captain George Faulkner Wilkinson, Mrs. (Elizabeth) Wilkinson, or Master (Wilfred) Wilkinson. Furthermore, the album contained a broadsheet that appears to have been issued to accompany Captain Wilkinson’s ivory and wood carving exhibit at the Perth International Exhibition in November 1881, which we have included with this group of theatre programmes (see item XIV, below). 

Condition: The programmes have been very well preserved overall. All are complete, with occasional minor faults such as light creasing or foxing, old fold lines or signs of removal from the commonplace album; some are still tipped onto a section of an album leaf, while others were evidently never mounted but rather loosely inserted in the album.

I. Grand Evening Amateur Concert, to be held in the Town Hall, Perth, on Wednesday, March 6th, 1873. Under the immediate patronage of His Excellency the Governor … Conductor – Mr. G. S. Compton. Narrow folio, 460 x 115 mm (horizontal fold), lithograph printed by Stirling & Son, Perth; complete programme, set within decorative border; lists 24 musical acts. Performers include Capt. Wilkinson, Mrs. Wilkinson, Miss Vincent, Mr. G. S. Compton, Miss L. Cowan, Mr. F. DuBoulay, Miss Howard, Mrs. Maycock, Miss Jewell, Miss Sheperd, Mr. T. Halliday, Mr. C. Howard, Mr. B. Wood, Mrs. Gull, Mr. A. Taylor.

II. Private Theatricals given by H. E. The Governor & Mrs. Robinson. Perth, W.A., December 15, 1876. Dearest Mamma … Whitebait at Greenwich. Single sheet, 215 x 140 mm, lithograph printed in blue on buff paper; complete programme, listing casts of two theatrical pieces, set within decorative border. Performers include Mr. H. C. Princep, Mrs. Hocking, Miss Hocking, Mr. H. H. Hocking, Mr. C. H. James, Mrs. Wilkinson, Mr. M. C. Fraser, Mr. O. Burt. Manager: Mr. J. C. H. James.

III. Entertainment by The Thespians. Perth, W.A., July 31, 1877. In aid of the Dorcas Society. … A Thumping Legacy … Cool as a Cucumber. Single sheet, 260 x 170 mm (horizontal fold), lithograph printed recto only in black on white paper; complete programme, listing casts of two theatrical pieces. Performers include Mr. O. Burt, Mr. H. C. Prinsep, Mr. H. Ashton, Mr. J. C. H. James, Mr. C. L. Clifton, Mr. R. Hare, Mr. F. Stone, Mrs. Hocking, Mr. C. Woodhouse, Mrs. S. H. Parker, Mrs. Wilkinson. Note: the aim of the evening’s theatrical entertainment at St. George’s Hall was to raise money for the Perth Dorcas Society, a charitable institution.

IV.  Tuesday evening, June 18 [1878], at 8 o’clock. The Thespians will perform “A Rough Diamond,” … “Two in the Morning,” … “Done on Both Sides.” At head, in ms.: Mechanics’ Hall. Duodecimo, 114 x 78 mm, printed in black on purple card; complete programme, listing casts of three theatrical pieces. Performers include Capt. Wilkinson, Mr. J. C. H. James, Mrs. Wilkinson, Mr. H. C. Prinsep, Mrs. Hocking, Mr. G. Leake, jun., Mrs. Broadhurst, Mr. W. Gegg, Mrs. John Forrest. Orchestra conductor: Mr. C. H. Compton; Scenery artist: Mr. H. C. Prinsep.

V. Mechanics’ Hall, Perth. In aid of the Cathedral Restoration Fund. The Thespian Dramatic Company, assisted by other ladies and gentlemen, who have kindly come forward, will perform Thursday, July 11th, 1878 “Our Wife”, … to be followed by “Apartments,” or A Lodging House in Exhibition Time. … Friday, July 12th, 1878 “A Wonderful Woman.” … to be followed by “Poor Pillycoddy.” Folio sheet, 225 x 370 mm (vertical fold), letterpress printed by Stirling Bros., Perth, recto only in black on high quality paper, Advance Australia coat of arms at centre; complete programme, listing the casts of four plays. Performers include Mr. G. Leake, jun., Mr. J. C. H. James, Mr. C. E. May, Mrs. Wilkinson, Miss Sholl, Mr. G. C. Knight, Lady Leake, Mrs. J. Forrest, Mr. Haghe, Mr. Edward Mayhew, Mr. F. Stone, Mr. C. L. Howard, Capt. A. J. Hillman, Miss E. Stone, Miss E. Clifton. Manager: Mr. J. C. H. James. Scenery: Mr. H. C. Prinsep. Arrangements of the Hall under the direction of Capt. Wilkinson. Treasurer: Capt. Hillman. Note: a review appeared in The Western Australian Times, 16 July 1878.

VI. High School, Perth, W.A. St. George’s Hall; December 15th, 1879. Programme. … Jack the Giant Killer … The Rival Brothers. Single sheet, 250 x 190 mm, lithograph printed recto only in black on white paper; complete programme, listing 15 musical acts and the full casts of two pantomimes. Performers include S. J. Chipper, E. A. Letch, W. Wilkinson, M. Bunbury, W. E. Gull, L. G. Throssell, C. A. Saw, C. Sholl, E. Steere, F. Hicks, H. E. Gull, C. H. Compton, C. Birch, R. Lockhart, W. James, J. H. Fleay, T. Fawcett. Manager: Mr. J. C. H. James. Note: this is the programme for the Perth Boys’ School’s end-of-year theatrical entertainment.

VII. Thespian Dramatic Company. St. George’s Hall, Perth. First Winter Performance, Wednesday & Thursday 21st & 22nd July 1880 at 8 p.m. “The Chimney Corner. A thrilling domestic drama in two acts … A Phenomenon in a Smock Frock. A farce in one act. Single sheet, 330 x 205 mm (horizontal fold), lithograph printed in violet on cheap white paper, illustrated border (which advertises a forthcoming performance of Boucicault’s play London Assurance); complete programme, listing casts of two theatrical pieces. Performers include Mr. C. Woodhouse, Mr. J. C. H. James, Mrs. Wilkinson, Mr. F. Hart, Miss M. Clifton, Mr. J. H. Drake, Mr. Tom Hills; Mr. E. Mayhew, Mr. G. Leake, Mrs. J. Forrest, Mr. Haghe (scenery artist). Note: the reviewer in The West Australian, 27 July 1880, praised the evening as ‘the best amateur theatrical performance we have ever seen.’

VIII. Thespians. St. George’s Hall, 8 Sept[embe]r. 1880. Our Wife … Patient Penelope. Single sheet, 210 x 145 mm), printed recto only in violet on cheap white paper, with two vignette illustrations; complete programme for two theatrical pieces; the characters in each play are listed in French and Classical Greek, respectively (the names of the performing casts are not listed).

IX. [Fremantle Amateur Dramatic Club, St. George’s Hall, Perth, 4 November 1881]. Programme. The original Serio Comic Drama in two Acts, entitled Milky White, by H. T. Craven Esq. Single sheet, 210 x 130 mm, lithograph printed recto only in black on mauve paper (horizontal fold); complete programme listing full cast of the play. Performers include Mr. A. G. Rosser, Mr. W. H. burner, Mr. F. E. Stafford, Master Wilkinson, Mrs. Wilkinson, Mrs. L. C. Clifton. Note: a review of the performance appeared in The West Australian, 8 November 1881.

X. High School Theatricals. Monday, December 19th, 1881. … Little Toddlekins … Bombastes Furioso. Duodecimo, 114 x 78 mm, printed in black on green card; complete programme, listing casts of two theatrical pieces. Performers include W. A. Gale, R. Mackay, E. Macpherson, H. E. Gull, A. C. Gull, W. Wilkinson, E. A. Letch. Note: this is the programme for the Perth Boys’ School’s end-of-year theatrical entertainment, staged at the Mechanics’ Institute. A review appeared in The West Australian, 23 December 1881.

XI. Perth Dorcas Society. Amateur Theatricals. St. George’s Hall, August 3rd, 1882. Our Boys … A Happy Pair. Printed on the first side of a bifolium, 205 x 130 mm, in black on mauve linen paper. Performers include Mr. Templar, Mr. E. Hare, Mr. Harper, Mr. Drake, Miss Lefroy, Mrs. Price, Miss Lochee, Miss May Moore, Mrs. Wilkinson. Note: a review of the evening’s entertainment appeared in The Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth), 9 August 1882.

XII. [April 7, 1883]. Amateur Theatricals, St. George’s Hall, Perth. Uncle’s Will … A Husband to Order. Single sheet, 210 x 130 mm, lithograph printed recto only in navy on light blue linen paper; complete programme listing the casts of two plays. Performers include Mrs. Wilkinson, Mr. Harper, Mr. Wright, Mrs. Price, Mrs. L. Clifton, Mrs. Broadhurst, Mr. Leake, Mr. James Prinsep, Mr. Drake, Mr. Prinsep. Note: a review appeared in The West Australian, 10 April 1883.

XIII. Amateur Dramatic Performance, in aid of the Dorcas Society. St. George’s Hall, Perth. Thursday evening, 27th August [1883], at 8.30. “Perfection,” or “The Lady of Munster.” A vaudeville in one act. … “Our Boys.” A comedy in three acts. Single sheet, 260 x 130 mm (horizontal fold), lithograph printed by Sands & McDougall Limited, Perth, in black on cheap green paper; complete programme listing the casts of two plays. Performers include Hon. J. G. H. Amherst, Mr. R. B. Burnside, Mr. A. H. Williams, Mrs. Price, Miss Lefroy, Mr. J. F. Harper, Mr. J. H. Drake, Mr. J. C. H. James, Mrs. Forrest, Miss Hamersley; musicians include Mrs. Cecil Clifton, Mr. Cecil Clifton, Mr. C. Pether, Mr. G. Fethers, Mr. J. S. Brooking. Note: Thursday 27 August 1883 was the day of the Krakatoa eruption, one of the most powerful volcanic events in recorded history, which was heard as far away as Perth.

XIV. Carving and Turning in Ivory and Wood, by Captain G. F. Wilkinson, Perth, W. A. … Nov. 1881. Broadsheet, 255 x 125 mm, lithograph printed in black on white paper; mounted on a section of a nineteenth-century album leaf, with some ghosting from the original glue, otherwise good.

Captain Wilkinson’s fine carving work in ivory and wood had previously been awarded a bronze medal at the Paris Exhibition in 1876. Several pieces described on the present broadsheet had also formed part of the Colony of Western Australia’s exhibit at the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880-81, where Wilkinson would be awarded a Fourth Order of Merit. In an article previewing the exhibition that appeared in The Herald (Fremantle), 21 August 1880, Wilkinson’s work received high praise:

‘Among other exhibits from this colony for the Melbourne Exhibition is a small but beautiful collection of carving and turning in ivory, the work of Captain Wilkinson of Perth. The collection consists of a toilet powder puffbox, a card case, a cover for a prayer book, and two carte de visite frames. The work in each of the articles is exquisitely delicate and beautiful, and the design and finish faultless and equal to the best work of the kind we have ever seen. The collection bears creditable evidence to the consummate skill and patience of the gentleman who exhibits them. In addition to the above, Captain Wilkinson also sends a handsomely designed inlaid photographic Album Cover, embracing all the ornamental woods of the colony.’

George Faulkner Wilkinson (1838-1884) was born in Horbling, Lincolnshire. Accompanied by his wife Elizabeth (née Clarke, 1844-1929) and two oldest children, Mabel Bessie (1865-1918) and Wilfred (1868-1917), he emigrated to Western Australia on the Palestine in August 1868, to oversee work on a sheep station he had purchased at Champion Bay, north of Geraldton. In 1870 he settled with his family in Perth. For a number of years he served as a local magistrate, and as Transport Officer in the colonial volunteer forces. An accomplished musician, he was engaged as organist at the Old St. George’s Cathedral in Perth. He and his wife were also keen thespians, which is attested by the frequent appearance of their names, as well as that of  their son, Wilfred, in this collection of rare Perth playbills from the 1870s-80s. A personal friend of the Governor, Sir Frederick Weld, Wilkinson served as secretary of the Weld Club, the exclusive gentleman’s club in Barrack Street founded in 1871. In 1879 he formed a partnership with Edward Kay Courthope as auctioneers and commission agents. In 1881 he was appointed the first Station Master for the newly completed Perth-Fremantle railway. Wilkinson died suddenly on 4 September 1884, and – as Staff Officer of Volunteers – was accorded a military funeral. He is buried in an unmarked grave in the East Perth Cemetery.