A survey of the career of D'Oyly Carte and his company, this archive page has a complete list of productions at the Savoy Theatre during his management, including cast changes and variant programme covers where illustrations are available. Also, details of productions prior to the opening of the Savoy and of some of the early touring companies. Items are listed in approximate date order, according to the printing date of the item (where known). Most items on this page are not currently for sale. Early items for sale can be found here.

Trial by Jury

Trial By Jury opened at the Royalty Theatre on 25th March 1875, playing as an afterpiece to Offenbach's La Perichole. The true initial run was rather short, as the theatre closed on June 12th, the company taking the production on tour. Although probably issued on 10th April 1875, it is possible that this programme was printed even earlier, as it does not mention the Associate, a role which is generally believed to have been named after 1st April. All the original cast members were in place at this exceptionally early date. Strictly, Carte was only the Manager, not the impressario, at this stage.

Trial by Jury

Following their tour, the Trial By Jury company re-opened at the Royalty Theatre on 11th October 1875, again playing with La Perichole. By the date of this programme, 16th November, there had been some substantial cast changes and the piece was now described as "successful". The operetta was withdrawn on 18th December, having totalled an initial, if fractured, run of 131 performances.

Trial by Jury

On January 13th 1876 the production moved to the Opera Comique, where it was initially an afterpiece to Offenbach's Madame L'Archiduc. This Opera Comique programme, dated 14th February 1876, features the composer's brother Fred Sullivan in his original role as the Judge. Counsel, Usher and Foreman were all played by actors who had appeared at the Royalty. Gilbert and Sullivan appear on the cover and the programme is full of line drawings of characters in both pieces.

Trial by Jury

During the 96 performance run of Trial by Jury at the Opera Comique it shared the bill with three different operettas. On this programme it was forepiece to Offenbach's Genevieve de Brabant, starring Emily Soldene, which dates it to between 18th March and April 1st 1876. Fred Sullivan was still The Judge and understudy "E. Cambell" (Charles ?) was The Defendant. Foreman was W.S. Penley, later famous in the title role of Charley's Aunt.

The Sorcerer - first programme

The Sorcerer opened at the Opera Comique on 22nd November 1877, and it appears that no special programme was produced for opening night. However, this copy was issued during the first two weeks of the production, as it gives Act 2 as "Market Place in the Village", and has typographical errors consistent with the example reproduced by Reginald Allen, and which he considers likely to have been the first issued. This copy is dated for third night.

The Sorcerer & Trial by Jury

On 23rd March 1878 Trial by Jury was added as afterpiece to The Sorcerer at the Opera Comique, running alongside it for 56 performances. This programme, produced on 29th April 1878 by The Graphic, a firm that specialised in elaborately bordered playbills, used exactly the same artwork as would appear on the first Pinafore programme a few weeks later. The role of Notary is given here as "Counsel".

H.M.S. Pinafore - Opening Night

H.M.S. Pinafore opened at the Opera Comique on May 25th 1878. This programme was intended for use on both the first and second nights and it bears both dates. Only five hundred were printed, and of these just a handful are known to have survived.

H.M.S. Pinafore - 3rd Night

This H.M.S. Pinafore programme is reliably dated in pencil for 28th May 1878, the third performance. This was the opening night of the first revival of the forepiece, Spectre Knight, and shows that Second Lady was played on this occasion by Miss Hervey, not Miss Muncey, as has been stated.

H.M.S. Pinafore

This H.M.S. Pinafore programme is reliably dated in pencil for 7th August 1878, and is remarkable in that Ralph Rackstraw was played by a Mr Ferran, who is not listed in Rollins and Witts or any other source that we've seen, although this may be a mis-print for D'Arcy Ferris who played the role on occasion. Buttercup was Emily Cross, here appearing in the role much earlier than has been previously documented.

H.M.S. Pinafore

During the run of H.M.S. Pinaforethere were occasional cast changes. This example probably dates from either August 1878 or February 1879, as Josephine is played by Alice Burville.

H.M.S. Pinafore

Highly decorated programme featuring the original cast of Pinafore. The use of gold and full-colour litho would suggest that this was intended for use in only the very best seats, or at a special performance, although it is frustratingly undated. It must date from before the split between D'Oyly Carte and the Comedy Opera Company on 1st August 1879.

H.M.S. Pinafore

Attractive H.M.S. Pinafore programme, with cover advert for The Children's Pinafore and dated in pencil for 13th December 1879. Many of the roles are played by cast members who would not be expected to appear at this date. Frank Thornton is Deadeye; Elinor Loveday is Josphine; Mr Montelli is Bobstay; Mr Ramsay is Beckett; and Haidee Crofton, Hebe.

H.M.S. Pinafore

The first provincial D'Oyly Carte production was in March 1878, when The Sorcerer was seen in Liverpool with Trial By Jury. This programme was printed to mark the second time H.M.S. Pinafore reached the city, when the 1st Pinafore Company opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre on October 30th 1879. W.S. Penley, later famous for creating the tite role in Charley's Aunt, played Sir Joseph. The forepiece was After All, featuring Richard Cummings, J.H. Rogers and the husband and wife team of Robert and Theresa Cummings. The programme cover advertises future events.

H.M.S. Pinafore

The cover of this similar programme states that it was produced for the "last performances" of Pinafore. It is dated by hand for Feb 9th 1880. After 571 performances the piece closed on Feb 20th. Again, there are a few unexpected cast members, most notably Fanny Holland as Josephine. The programme is decorated inside and out with scenes from the opera, and includes many plugs for the Children's Pinafore and an announcement that Pirates is due to open "at Easter".

The Pirates of Penzance

The Pirates of Penzance was first seen in London at the Opera Comique on April 3rd 1880, where it ran for 363 performances, closing on April 2nd of the following year. This unusual programme printed on pale lilac paper, dates from before July 1880, as it features all the original London cast.

The Pirates of Penzance

An unusual programme for The Pirates of Penzance at the Opera Comique. Although it clearly dates from before July 1880, Ellen Shirley plays Mabel. A note explains that this actress would "sustain the part during Miss Hood's indisposition". This would therefore appear to represent Ellen's debut in a solo G&S role, at least 6 months earlier than previously recorded. Otherwise, the cast is that which had been seen on the London opening night.

The Pirates of Penzance

This strange programme was probably printed in September 1880, and certainly after July, when some of the cast returned from New York, having created their roles in the States. It is unusual in that Frederic is played by one "F. Seymour". Was this W.S. Seymour, the Opera Comique stage manager who deputised for George Power on odd occasions during the run ? Billie Barlow, as Isabel, is credited as "M. Barlow". It is possible that her real initial has been used here in error, as she had only recently adopted the name Billie.

Children's Pinafore on tour

The Children's Pinafore had opened at the Opera Comique on Dec 16th 1879, playing 78 matinees over the Christmas season. On August 2nd 1880 this company set out on tour, reaching Liverpool in November, where the final eight performances at the Alexandra Theatre were given following November 15th. Unlike in London, the children performed in the evening as well as at Wed and Sat matinees. The cast was as had been seen in London, except that Hebe was Alice Roe and Bob Beckett was played by Master R. Presano.

The Pirates of Penzance

The cover of this attractive programme includes an announcement for the revival of the Children's Pinafore to be played during the Christmas holidays, so it most likely dates from just prior to that production's December 22nd 1880 return to the Opera Comique.

The Pirates of Penzance/ In The Sulks on tour

D'Oyly Cartes "B" company arrived in Liverpool on 28th February, where they presented The Pirates of Penzance for two weeks. Half way through this engagement at the Alexandra Theatre the cast became known as "C" company. This was also a period of change-over among the lesser female roles, and during the first week (at least) Edith was Agnes Mitchell, Kate was Lucy Millais and Isabel was Ethel Maribel. In the curtain raiser, In The Sulks, Louis Herbert played Liverby, Lucy Millais his wife and Joseph was W. T. Hemsley.

Children's Pinafore on tour

The Children's Pinafore set out on tour again after the second Christmas season of matinees at the Opera Comique ended on January 28th (or Feb 11th ?) 1881. Despite this being a short tour, ending on July 2nd, the company returned to Liverpool for a twelve-night engagement from 30th May 1881. There were more cast changes from the original Opera Comique production, with George Coburn as Ralph and Edith Stanfield as Hebe. By this time Bob Becket was now Anthony Presano while (his brother ?) R. Presano had moved across to play Bill Bobstay. It is interesting that in both Liverpool programmes Sir Joseph is played by "James E. Pickering", while in London he had been listed as Edward.

Patience - Opening Night

Patience, or Bunthorne's Bride opened at the Opera Comique on April 23rd 1881. The first night programme has a distinctive red border on the cover. There was no curtain raiser on opening night.

Patience SILK

This 16"x 10" programme, printed on perfumed silk, names the complete original cast of Patience, before Richard Temple was replaced in September 1881, and includes the following notice: "The music will be published in a few days. Orders taken by the attendants will be executed post free on the day of publication". (The same notice has previously been noted on a programme dated 6th May.) The forepiece, Uncle Samuel, premiered on 3rd May 1881, and this souvenir most likely commemorated that opening, but no such confirmation is printed. Patience is played by "Lenora Braham" (sic).

Pinafore / Sorcerer on tour

The D'Oyly Carte "B" Company arrived at the Theatre Royal Opera House in Southampton on 20th June 1881, presenting H.M.S. Pinafore on Monday, Friday and Saturday evenings, and The Sorcerer on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoon. Each performance was preceded by In the Sulks. The programme also carries an announcement that the Children's Pinafore would be appearing at the theatre for a week from June 27th 1881.

Patience

Patience played for 170 performances before closing on October 8th, ready to reopen immediately at the new Savoy. This programme, dated September 24th 1881 shows no forepiece as it was for a matinee performance. The cast is as opening night, but with one important exception: Ellen Shirley in the title role. Although the programme states that this was her first appearance at this theatre, she had actually filled in for Marion Hood as Mabel on occasion in the previous January.

Patience / Mock Turtles

Patience transferred to the new Savoy Theatre on 10th October 1881. Programmes are hard to date accurately, as we have to rely on dates written in by the original theatregoers. To add to the confusion, the programmes were printed in at least two designs and in many colour variations. This paper one, issued to those sitting in the cheaper seats, was originally bright orange paper but has since faded to beige.

Patience / Mock Turtles

The curtain raiser, Mock Turtles, was probably added to the bill around 15th November 1881, with Courtice Pounds creating the role of Mr. Wranglebury. This pale green cardboard programme, printed in iridescent green ink, is dated in pen "Nov 10th 1881" but this is probably a mistake - 1882 is much more likely as Arthur Law plays Wranglebury. Walter Browne appears as the Colonel; otherwise the Patience cast is as opening night.

Patience / Mock Turtles

This programme is similar, though decorated with scenes from the opera in iridescent red ink. Printed on card, it would have been given to those in more expensive seats.

Patience / Mock Turtles

One of the best designed decorative souvenir programmes we have seen, presumably produced to mark a special occasion, or possibly just for those sitting in boxes. Walter Browne played the Colonel. Printed in blue and gold, the cover depicts the military men in aesthetic guise in the centre of a blue and white china plate, while the inside has four vignettes from the opera and the portrait heads of Gilbert & Sullivan. The rear cover has an advert for the vocal arrangements.

Patience / Mock Turtles

This yellow paper programme uses completely different artwork. Walter Browne plays the Colonel - otherwise the cast remains as opening night. Patience ran for a further 408 performances at the Savoy, closing on November 22nd 1882 after a total run of 578 performances.

Patience on tour

The number 2 Patience company started touring the UK on Jan 2nd 1882, while the piece was still on stage at the Savoy. By March 27th the tour had reached the Royal Albert Hall in Reading, where it played for one week. Frederick Federici played the Colonel, but his name is mis-spelled in the programme.

Patience on tour

Early tour programme from the Theatre Royal and Opera House in Bolton, where the number 2 Patience company played for six nights from June 19th 1882. Superb example of Victorian typography produced by the local printer. This week of performances is unrecorded in Rollins & Witts.

Pirates / A Silent Woman on tour

Pirates continued to tour in the provinces years after the London production had closed. On 25th September 1882 the "No. 1 Pirates Company" was nearing the end of its existence when it played six nights at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool. W.T Hemsley played Samuel as well as Arthur Merton in T. H. Lacy's farce "A Silent Woman" which opened the bill. Jospephine Findlay also played two roles, Isabel and Marianne Sandford, while C.J. Stanley appeared in just the curtain raiser, as Mr. Sandford.

Iolanthe - Opening Night

Iolanthe was the first piece to have its premiere at the Savoy Theatre, opening on 25th November 1882. This opening night programme states the date inside, and also notes that "on this occasion the opera will be Conducted by the Composer". This cheap-seats version is printed on an odd ribbed paper of pale green.

Iolanthe / Mock Turtles

This programme, issued to those in better seats, is something of a classic, famously incorprating the Savoy's electric light bulbs into the decorative scheme. It dates from before February 1883, as Leila is played by Julia Gwynne, and Celia by May Fortescue. Rosina Brandram appears in the curtain raiser, "Mock Turtles" with Eric Lewis.

Iolanthe matinee

An undated pale green programme, with full first cast, there is no clue exactly when this may have been produced. The lack of curtain raiser suggests that it was for use at a matinee.

Iolanthe

This blue programme, of the type issued to those in cheaper seats, dates from between February and August 1883, during which period Leila was played by Maud Cathcart. Although this matinee programme lists no curtain raiser, Iolanthe ran with Mock Turtles until 30th March 1883, and then A Private Wire until the end of its run.

Iolanthe

Also used at some point between February and August 1883, this unusual Iolanthe cheap-seats programme has a different design with a butterfly on the cover and, between the centre pages, a parrot in a cage. Clearly the printer, W. Aubert, used whatever motifs he had available and did not concern himself with the subject of the play!

Iolanthe on tour

lolanthe arrived at the Royal Opera House in Leicester on May 28th 1883. Frank Thornton starred as Chancellor with Laura Clement as Phyllis. The curtain raiser was Cups and Saucers.

Iolanthe / A Private Wire

Another variant cover, this pink programme has been dated by hand for 1st October 1883. Charles Manners still plays Willis, while Sybil Grey is Leila, Rose Hervey is Celia and Grace Arnold, Fleta.

Iolanthe/ A Private Wire

Beautiful programme printed in gold, pink and black, featuring the Queen with three fairies on the cover; Willis, Tolloller, Mountararat and Chancellor on the reverse; and Iolanthe, Strephon, Phillis and the Chancellor again within. This example can be firmly dated to October 1883 as the cast list has been amended with a stuck-on panel naming Charles Ryley, making his Savoy debut as Private Willis. The triple bill commenced at 8pm with A Private Wire, and after Iolanthe, at 10.50pm, Grossmith gave his drawing-room entertainment, The Drama on Crutches.

Iolanthe on tour

Early tour programme for Iolanthe and Cups and Saucers at the New Theatre Royal in Bristol, where it played for six nights from November 12th 1883. Frank Thornton must have been rather busy, playing Lord Chancellor and being Stage Manager ! The first provincial production had opened a little over a month after the London premiere.

Iolanthe /A Private Wire

The cast changes in Iolanthe during its long run affected mainly the minor characters. This version of the regular programme, with a rather more conventional border, dates from after November 1883, when Warwick Gray was playing Private Willis. Iolanthe closed on Jan 1st 1884, after a run of 398 performances.

Princess Ida

Princess Ida opened on 5th January 1884, and closed on October 9th, after a disappointing run (for a G&S opera) of just 246 performances. This exceptional programme was produced for those in the better seats, and has no advertisements of any kind. Dated 22nd Jan 1884, it describes the opera as being "in a prologue and two acts". Despite the early date, Ada was already being played by Lilian Carr. It is decorated inside with characters from the piece and is printed in maroon and gold.

Princess Ida

Superficially similar to the souvenir shown above, but note that the cover has been made into an advert, so that it now reads, "Princess Ida uses Edenia, the perfume supreme" ! It also has further adverts inside, and describes the opera as having three acts. It is printed in brown and gold.

This opening night programme for the first provincial performance of Princess Ida, at the Royalty Theatre in Glasgow, 4th Feb 1884, adds a "The" to the title of the piece, both inside and on the cover. By this time Richard D'Oyly Carte was clearly geared up to a speedy launch in the provinces, this production by D Company opening within a month of the Savoy premiere.

"A" Company (also known as Princess Ida No.2 Company) took the new piece to smaller towns, sometimes playing just two or three nights before moving in the middle of the week. For example, in the week of 15th July 1884 they had played Monday to Thursday in Margate, Kent, but here they are at the Granville Hall Theatre in nearby Ramsgate, for the Friday and Saturday performances. Interestingly, at this time Ramsgate's visitors were probably the better heeled of the two. I'm reminded of Penelope Ann, who also used to share her business between these two resorts. With typical diregard for punctuation this programme announces the piece as "Princess Ida !, or Castle Adamant !".

Princess Ida

The regular Princess Ida souvenir programme has superb artwork by Alice Havers, with four colour, and four sepia, illustrations from the opera. The back pages use the characters as frames for advertisements. This example names Lilian Carr as Ada, but otherwise has the opening cast.

Princess Ida tour herald

This four page herald uses Havers' artwork, the cover being almost the same as the Savoy programme shown above although it is much smaller, just 4.5" x 3.5". It mostly consists of adverts, but page two, shown at left, was used to promote forthcoming performances by the Princess Ida company on tour.

Princess Ida

Dated for 7th March 1884, this Princess Ida programme shows all the opening night cast in place except Lilian Carr, who replaced Miss Twyman as Ada during the first month. A contemporary pencil notation suggests that Kate Chard, who usually played Psyche, took the lead role on this occasion.

Princess Ida

An undated programme, this example has the same cast, but is printed on pale green paper.

Princess Ida on tour

Early tour programme for Princess Ida at the New Theatre Royal in Bristol, where it played for six nights from June 9th 1884. Although not named in the programme, this tour marked Henry Lytton's first D'Oyly Carte appearance, in the chorus; his wife, Louie Henri played Ada. Fred Billington, who had, by default, created the role of Sergeant of Police in Paignton in 1879, plays Hildebrand, and Hilarion is played by Courtice Pounds, who would go on to create the roles of Fairfax and Marco at the Savoy.

Princess Ida ticket

Rare ticket for Balcony seat at the Savoy Theatre for the Wednesday June 18th performance of Princess Ida in 1884. The reverse has a mini seating plan of the balcony, with all seats numbered, showing that seat 147 was in the back row.

Sorcerer / Trial revival Opening Night

D'Oyly Carte had no original opera to put into the Savoy following the relative failure of Princess Ida. The Sorcerer was therefore given a new act 2 opening, and paired with "Trial" for the opening night of the first DOC revival on October 11th 1884. As stated in this programme, Sullivan conducted the first performance.

Sorcerer / Trial

D'Oyly Carte continued to use old artwork on his full-colour programmes for some time after each new opera opened. This Princess Ida cover was used for the first revivals even a month after they opened.

Sorcerer / Trial

Programme for the first revival of The Sorcerer and Trial By Jury, which ran together for 150 performances, until March 12th 1885. Durward Lely left the cast of Trial in mid-November, so this example must have been printed earlier.

Children's Pirates

From Dec 26th 1884 until Feb 14th 1885, a company of children performed a series of matinees of The Pirates of Penzance at the Savoy. This four-sided foldout souvenir programme depicting the child actors on one side and full details of cast etc on the back was among the most elaborate and expensive ever produced by D'Oyly Carte.

Sorcerer / Trial

There was only one cast change during the short (150 performance) run of Sorcerer/Trial, and this programme dates from February or March 1885, when Jessie Bond was replaced as Constance by Alice Davies. An indulgence slip, pasted into the programme, shows that Lyn Cadwaladr played Alexis, due to the indisposition of Durward Lely. The run ended on March 12th 1885.

The Mikado

The Mikado opened at the Savoy on March 14th 1885 and didn't close until Jan 19th 1887. This programme has all the original cast members in place, and must date from the first few weeks of the run, as it doesn't include the character Go-To, added in April 1885.

The Mikado

From rather later in the run, this programme does include Go-To, played by Rudolph Lewis. I've always had a soft spot for the role, as it was my first, in a school production. Eight words and nine whole syllables - what a star ! This example is in better condition than most.

"D" Company, playing the larger towns, first took The Mikado to Liverpool for a two-week run in August 1885. This programme is from 21st December of the same year, when they returned to the city, playing another two weeks at the Royal Court Theatre. Clearly Liverpool loved the new piece!

The Mikado

Dated 23rd January 1886, this elaborate souvenir has six coloured pages depicting scenes from the previous operas. The cover design was reused and adapted over the following years. All the information normally found in a programme appears on page two, the rest being images and advertisements.

A highly unusual programme naming Eric Lewis, Grossmith's understudy, as Ko-Ko and Ada Rose playing opposite him as Katisha. J. M. Gordon took Lewis' role in The Carp. Dated by hand for 11th February 1886.

Dated by hand for 13th March 1886, this programme is perhaps most interesting for the indulgence slip was has been pasted inside, showing that Jessie Bond was indisposed, and that her part was taken by Annie Cole. Although Cole is known to have played Pitti-Sing from Sept to Nov 1886 this may have been the first occasion she stepped out from the chorus to play a major part.

Mikado poster

The Mikado D-company tour reaching Bradford on Aug 30th 1886 where this large poster was overprinted with details of the week-long stay at the Theatre Royal. Strangely, the design appears to be based on an image of the first American little maids, featuring, from left to right, Geraldine St Maur, Geraldine Ulmar and Kate Forster.

The Mikado

Frustratingly undated, this Mikado programme lists all the opening cast members, with one important exception: Annie Cole plays Peep-Bo in place of Sybil Grey. It has not previously been recorded that she played this small role at the Savoy. The casting of the companion piece, The Carp, suggests that the programme dates from August or September 1886.

Ruddygore - Opening Night

Ruddygore opened at the Savoy on January 22nd 1887. This opening night programme states the date inside, and also notes that "on this occasion the opera will be conducted by the composer". The souvenir has scenes from Iolanthe and Patience on the covers, and Pirates and The Sorcerer inside.

Ruddigore / The Carp

On, or around, 2nd February 1887, the spelling of the opera's title was changed, for reasons of decency. By the time this souvenir programme was printed, on 6th April, Josephine Findlay was playing Rose Maybud for a short period. All the other original major cast members were in place.

Ruddigore poster

Ruddigore first appeared in the provinces at Newcastle on March 7th 1887, the C-Company tour reaching Bradford on June 13th where this large poster was overprinted with details of the week-long stay at the Theatre Royal. Rather naively executed, it shows Robin and Rose in front of the first act set.

Ruddigore / The Carp

This "cheap-seats" programme names Geraldine Ulmar as Rose Maybud. She had replaced Leonora Braham in May 1886. There are clearly some errors in Rollins & Witts concerning Ruddigore casts, as this programme also has Brandram as Dame Hannah, Aida Jenoure as Zorah, and Mr. Shirley as Sir Desmond. Interestingly, these cheap programmes include the names of the actors playing the Act Two ghosts, which do not appear in the more lavish souvenirs.

Ruddigore / The Carp

Quite late in the Ruddigore run the souvenir programme was changed to include scenes from the actual opera being performed. This programme, dated 1st Nov, has Geraldine Ulmar playing Rose and Aida Jenoure as Zorah. It would also appear that Rosina Brandram returned to her role of Dame Hannah before the opera closed, four days later, on November 5th 1887, after 288 performances. A rather less impressive run than The Mikado !

The Mikado on tour

The Mikado toured the provinces with Patience in the latter part of 1887. This copy of the the programme of the first engagement of D-Company following a tour of Europe was originally owned by Ivy Bonheur (Yum-Yum), and she has written at the top "my first appearance professionally in Comic Opera". Bonheur's real name was Eveline Medora Gunning, and she was half sister of Frank Wyatt, who would go on to create the role of the Duke of Plaza Toro. The Mikado was performed at the Prince's Theatre in Manchester for three nights in the week of 12th September.

Mikado & Patience on tour

Barely three months after seeing Ruddigore (see poster above) Bradford audiences received D-Company, performing The Mikado and Patience. Each opera was given three times at the Theatre Royal in the week of September 19th 1887, and the programme did duty for both pieces. George Thorne was Ko-Ko with Fred Billington as Poo-Bah (sic). The only surprise in the casting was Mr Jones as Bunthorne's Solicitor, not Mr Cottrell as suggested by Rollins & Witts. As was often the case in the provinces the title of Patience was given an illegal apostrophe !

Pinafore - first revival

On November 12th 1887, following the early close of Ruddigore, Richard D'Oyly Carte was forced, once again, to mount a revival at the Savoy. Pinafore was given a run of 120 performances, closing on 10th March 1888. This example of the souvenir programme is dated 13th December 1887.

Pinafore

Cheap-seats version of the programme for the first revival of Pinafore. During the run there were cast changes affecting the roles of Josephine and Hebe, but here Geraldine Ulmar and Jessie Bond, who had appeared on the opening night in 1887, are still in place. After the performance George Grossmith gave his drawing room sketch, "Homburg; or Haunted By the Mikado", as an afterpiece.

Pirates - first revival

The Pirates of Penzance was given its first revival on March 17th 1888. It closed on 6th June, after just 80 performances - one of the shortest runs in the nineteenth century for a G&S opera. This example of the souvenir programme is dated 26th March 1888. The forepiece was Mrs. Jarramie's Genie.

Carte Wedding: gift from E-Company

On 1st May 1888 E-Company was appearing in Bath and a local printer was comissioned to print this souvenir card for the cast members to keep. It records the text of an address presented, with a pair of silver candlesticks, to the Richard D'Oyly Carte and Helen Lenoir, who had wed on April 12th. It is a fascinating record of the names of the company and its associates, including many choristers whose names have previously been unrecorded.

Mikado - first revival

During the 116 performance run of the first Mikado revival there were a number of cast changes. This programme has Richard Temple in the title role, Geraldine Ulmar as Yum-Yum, Annie Cole as Pitti-Sing and Brandram, Grossmith and Barrington recreating their original parts. The curtain raiser was Mrs Jarramie's Genie. The revival opened at the Savoy on June 7th 1888 and ran until September 29th.

Mikado & Pirates on tour

Despite an extraordinarily decorative cover, this programme has no printed details of venue or date. The original owner's scribble on the front, "St George's Hall, Burton on Trent, Oct 1888" is backed up by Rollins & Witts, as the cast is almost what might have been expected on October 3rd and 4th, when "C" Company appeared in the town for just two nights. Although "The Carp" was to have been presented with Pirates the title has been crossed through, both on the cover and inside.

The Yeomen of the Guard

The Yeomen of the Guard opened at the Savoy on October 3rd 1888. This first cast programme names Tom Redmond as 1st Citizen, a role he apparently only played during 1888. Mrs. Jarramie's Genie was the forepiece. Yeomen ran for 423 performances, closing on November 30th 1889.

The Yeomen of the Guard

The first Yeomen of the Guard souvenir programme was this rather odd one, with a line drawing on the cover adapted from the 1885/6 Mikado souvenir. Inside are further line drawings of characters from other operas. This copy is dated 6th November 1888.

Discreetly dated in pencil, this programme for The Yeomen of the Guard was most likely acquired at the Savoy on January 26th 1889. Note the colour variation. There appears to be no rhyme or reason to the different colours used - it is possible they represented different parts of the house, but I suspect it was more to do with what the printer had available.

Yeomen ticket

Rare ticket for Stall seat at the Savoy Theatre for the Tuesday Jan 22nd performance of The Yeomen of the Guard in 1889. The reverse has a mini seating plan of the stalls, with all seats numbered, showing that seat 138 was in the eighth row.

Yeomen souvenir

Dated 29th March 1889, this style of souvenir, with Jessie Bond as Phoebe on the cover, was used in the middle of the run. Interestingly, Tom Redmond is named as 1st Citizen despite the late period.

The Yeomen of the Guard at the Prince's Theatre in Manchester, July 1st 1889. The city had hosted the first provincial production of the piece, almost exactly a year earlier.

Produced for those sitting in the better seats at the Savoy, the souvenir booklet includes coloured illustrations of scenes from The Yeomen of the Guard. It dates from September 2nd 1889, soon after John Wilkinson had replaced Grossmith as Point, and was printed in an edition of five hundred copies. This style of souvenir became the standard at the Savoy for the following five years or so.

A late programme for Yeomen, dated 23rd Sept 1889, printed on bright orange paper. Grossmith had been replaced as Jack Point by John Wilkinson in August 1889, and Mr Lees had taken the role of First Citizen at around the same time. Geraldine Ulmar's name has been crossed out by the original owner, and "Norah Phyllis" written in. If this were the fact it would have marked Norah's Savoy debut (she created the role of Giulia later in December 1889, and would cover for Ulmar again during the same month).

From an edition of one thousand, printed on 20th March 1890, and apparently issued two days later, this programme shows that the majority of the cast who had opened the piece on December 7th 1889 were still playing their original parts. The exceptions are among the female characters, as here we have Annie Cole as Tessa, Jose Shalders as Vittoria, and Cissie Saumarez as Giulia.

D'Oyly Carte had major problems with his Gianettas during the run of The Gondoliers. The part, created by Geraldine Ulmar, was played by a total of fifteen actresses during the 554 performance run (though interestingly these are not the same 15 sopranos listed in Rollins and Witts !). Here Gianetta is Esther Palliser.

Here Gianetta is Amy Sherwin. This actress only played the role for seven performances between 25th and 31st July 1890. This programme is dated for the 28th.

This cheap-seats programme for The Gondoliers is dated 21st August 1890. and features George Temple (the original Samuel) as the Duke of Plaza Toro.

On 5th Jan 1891 Nita Carritte took over the role of Gianetta, giving around 54 performances, until 27th February. This souvenir, printed on 9th Feb, has a number of other variant cast members: W.S. Laidlaw, Giuseppe; W.R. Shirley, Francesco; P. Burbank, Annibale; Rudolph Lewis, Ottavio; and Cissie Saumarez as Giulia.

By March 1891 Gianetta was being played by Carrie Donald and Giulia was Cissie Saumarez. Although the programme was issued on 7th March it had been printed four days earlier. The production closed on June 20th 1891 after 554 performances.

Ivanhoe - Opening Night

The opening production at the Royal English Opera, D'Oyly Carte's new theatre, was Ivanhoe, an opera by Sullivan. The souvenir programme for the opera is known to exist with at least two different covers, although neither appears to represent characters from the piece, which opened on Jan 31st 1891. D'Oyly Carte regulars Charles Kenningham, Frederick Bovill, Esther Palliser and Richard Green are named in this opening night copy, which is dated in full, but which does not state that Sullivan would conduct.

Sullivan conducted the 100th performance himself. Although some were given an illustrated souvenir to mark the occasion, those in cheaper parts of the house got a paper programme, including a note that "On this occasion the Opera will be Conducted by the COMPOSER." Dated in code for 25th May 1891, the programme also contains a slip, noting that the title role would be played by Mr J. O'Mara on this occasion.

Ivanhoe: 100th performance

A trimmed cabinet card photo of a presentation certificate given to Sullivan by the members of the Royal English Opera orchestra on the occasion of the 100th performance of Ivanhoe. As well as signatures of conductors and players there is a decorative border which incorporates the music of one of the Torquilstone trumpet calls as well as the shields of The Templar and Ivanhoe.

This souvenir was produced for one of the most important events in D'Oyly Carte history, when The Gondoliers was presented in front of Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on March 6th 1891. Very few can have been printed, and even fewer survive. Contrary to legend, the programme does name Gilbert as the author.

The Nautch Girl

The first non-G&S piece presented at the Savoy, The Nautch Girl opened on June 30th 1891. Written by George Dance, with music by Edward Solomon, the opera starred many familiar names: Rutland Barrington, Courtice Pounds, Franks Thornton, Jessie Bond, Frank Wyatt, W. H. Denny etc.

Ivanhoe

With an amazing continuous run (for grand opera) of 155 performances, achieved through the use of two alternating casts, Ivanhoe closed on July 31st. This copy, dated 27th July 1891 names the Welsh tenor Ben Davies as Ivanhoe, with Ffrangcon Davies as Cedric, and most of the other opening night cast members.

Following the success of The Gondoliers at Windsor Castle in March, Queen Victoria commanded a further Royal Performance of G&S. D'Oyly Carte's "C" Company was playing Mikado, Yeomen and Gondoliers at Her Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen when the cast made a special trip to the Queen's castle at Balmoral, where The Mikado was presented on Friday 4th September. This small cardboard programme was probably issued to members of the Royal Household.

This large souvenir, printed on cream silk, was probably presented only to the Royal Family and special guests. Interestingly, both the two examples known to have survived have extra loops of silver braiding on only the right and lower edges, and only this one has retained the two gold silk pom-poms which hang from the bottom edge. Both this and the card programme shown above feature the same view of Balmoral Castle, printed in red.

This example of the The Nautch Girl programme probably dates from after the start of a series of major cast changes which occured in Autumn 1891. Miss Shalders plays Banyan, and there is no curtain-raiser, which would indicate a date between August and September, but neither Rutland Barrington not Jessie Bond are named, which according to Rollins and Witts, they should be at this time !

D'Oyly Carte on tour at Morton's Theatre in Greenwich, SE London, with Henry Lytton as Ko-Ko and Chancellor, October 19th and 20th, 1891. A note in the programme states that the following week the Monday performance would be under the patronage and in the presence of W.F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), but by this time Lytton et al would be in Croydon !

Richard D'Oyly Carte's second venture at his new opera house, The Basoche by Andre Messager, opened on November 3rd 1891. The first night programme uses a cover design which had earlier been used for Ivanhoe, and does not state whether or not the composer would conduct.

The Basoche ran until Jan 16th 1892, a total of 60 performances. Disillusioned by the project, Carte sold the theatre, which became the Palace Musical Hall, and later the Palace Theatre. This programme is dated for the 14th November 1891 and is a cheap-seats version.

This example of a Nautch Girl programme is dated 8th January 1892 and would indicate that, contrary to Rollins and Witts, Rutland Barrington and Jessie Bond returned to play The Rajah and Chinna Loofa for the final few performances. Edith Briant (or Bryant ?) also made an unexpected appearance as Cheetah at this time. The piece closed on Jan 16th 1892, after 200 performances. In the curtain-raiser, Captain Billy, which had opened on 23rd September 1891, Cissey (sic) Saumarez played Polly.

Second of D'Oyly Carte's stop-gap productions, The Vicar of Bray opened on 28th January 1892. This souvenir programme for the opening night clearly states that on this occasion the opera would be conducted by the composer, Edward Solomon. The cast included many DOC regulars: Barrington, Pounds, Brandram etc.

The Vicar of Bray was a revised version of Sydney Grundy's comic opera which had originally been produced at the Globe Theatre in 1882. The Savoy piece closed on June 18th after only 142 performances, yet continued to be presented in the provinces for some years. This souvenir programme is dated for 9th April 1892.

Nautch Girl & Yeomen on tour

On April 18th 1892 "B" Company reached Exeter, presenting The Nautch Girl and The Yeomen of the Guard. The programme covered both pieces.

Haddon Hall

Following the last night of The Vicar of Bray, the Savoy was dark for over three months, finally opening on 23rd Sept 1892 with a new Sullivan opera, Haddon Hall. Sir Arthur's collaboration with Sydney Grundy proved unpopular, and the piece ran for just 204 performances. This unusual programme, dated 21st January 1893, has Bates Maddison as John Manners, a role he played for a very short period, and unrecorded by either Rollins & Witts or Ganzl.

Haddon Hall on tour

While still running in London, a touring production of Haddon Hall was sent on the road, reaching Edinburgh on 9th Jan 1893. This was the first visit of a D'Oyly Carte company to this Scottish city.

Jane Annie was written by J.M. Barrie and Arthur Conan Doyle, with music by Sullivan's pupil, Ernest Ford. Despite this excellent pedigree, and a cast of DOC regulars, the piece was the first real Savoy flop, opening on May 13th 1893 and closing after just 50 performances. The first programme style issued was similar to the Windsor Yeomen shown above, rapidly followed by this paper version, printed on either green, yellow or orange paper. Sometime after 17th May the characters of second and third student were dropped from the cast list.

On 3rd June the curtain-raiser Mr Jericho was added to the bill. The programme style was changed again, to this cream or pink type, made of handmade paper and usually with a rough-trimmed edge. This example was printed on 30th June, and according to a pencil annotation on the cover, was issued at the last performance on 1st July. The Savoy remained dark throughout July, August and September.

Iolanthe on tour

"C" Company reached Manchester on 1893, appearing at the Theatre Royal for two weeks from June 5th. This programme was printed just for two performances of Iolanthe on June 14th and 15th. Contrary to Rollins & Witts, Private Willis was Ernest Eglington.

Utopia, Limited

Utopia, Limited opened at the Savoy on 7th October 1893. This souvenir programme, issued to those in the better seats, names all the original cast members, and is dated for Oct 23rd, by hand.

Utopia, Limited

This programme is from 24th October 1893, and therefore includes all the original cast. Miss Howell-Hersee was originally employed simply to understudy Florence Easton in the tiny part of Phylla, but due to illness, she created the role. Miss Easton replaced her in November, after this programme was printed.

Utopia, Limited

This green programme was printed later in the run, after Clarence Hunt had replaced Walter Passmore as Tarara.

Utopia, Limited

By 12th January 1894, when this programme was printed, Madeleine Galton was Melene and Florence Easton was Phylla. Utopia, Limited closed on June 9th 1894 after a run of 245 performances.

Mirette - Opening Night

Probably the most troubled piece to appear at the Savoy, Mirette, based on a French opera by Andre Messager, opened on July 3rd 1894. The composer conducted the first performance. The girl on the cover does not appear to be from any Savoy opera, and the design was used for the following few months, for at least three different productions.

Mirette - first version

After the 41st performance, on August 11th, Mirette was taken off, for revision, and the theatre remained dark for nearly two months. This programme for the first version is dated 24th July, at which time the title role was played by the original, Maud Ellicott.

Mirette - revised version

The revised version of Mirette finally opened on October 6th, this time running for 61 performances, but it finally closed on 6th December.

The Chieftain / Quite An Adventure

The Chieftain was a reworking of Sullivan and Burnand's The Contrabandista, and opened at the Savoy on 12th December 1894, running for just 97 performances. From 15th to 29th December the Sullivan piece was preceded by a short Desprez/Solomon operetta, Quite An Adventure, in which Beatrice Perry, named in this programme, appeared for just the final week. According to the cast list Powis Pinder unaccountably played both Ferdinand de Roxas and Escatero in the main piece !

The Chieftain

A souvenir of The Chieftain was produced during the run, possibly for the 50th performance, although the event was not specified. The covers reproduced Dudley Hardy's wonderful poster, and inside were eleven full colour illustrations of the characters, by the same artist.