At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of from left: Cr Allan Hutchinson, Cr Noel Whiting, Mayor of Kew, and Trinity Grammar boys dressed in sailor costumes.Annotated on reverse: "MAYOR, CR HUTCHINSON AND SAILORS"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival, cr allan hutchinson, cr noel whiting

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of three girl guides who were attending the Charles Grimes re-enactment in 1978. The guide on the left is Kate Smith and the guide on the right holding the Australian flag is Ann Wilson. The name of the guide in the middle has been obscured by glue and paper. Kanes Bridge is in the background. Annotated on reverse: "KATE SMITH *** ANN WILSON / FESTIVAL 1978 / GRIMES RE-ENACTMENT AT YARRA BEND / DONATED BY M. ROLLEY"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of participants in the Charles Grimes re-enactment at Yarra Bend during the 1978 Festival of Kew. From left to right they are: Cr Noel Whiting (Mayor of Kew), Stewart Brunt, Scott Fulton, and Cr Allan Hutchinson.Annotated on reverse: "RE-ENACTMENT OF GRIMES' JOURNEY UP THE YARRA 1803 / TRINITY GRAMMAR BOYS"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival, cr noel whiting, cr allan hutchinson

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of two schoolboys, dressed as Wurundjeri warriors, who were participants in the Charles Grimes re-enactment at Yarra Bend during the 1978 Festival of Kew. Annotated on reverse: "(NATIVES) RE-ENACTMENT OF GRIMES' 1803 EXPEDITION / FESTIVAL 1978 / DONATED BY M. ROLLEY"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of six Trinity Grammar students, dressed in costume as members of the Charles Grimes survey of the Yarra of 1803.Annotated on reverse: "TRINITY GRAMMAR BOYS DRESSED AS GRIMES' PARTY DURING RE-ENACTMENT / K.H. SOCIETY'S CONTRIBUTION TO 1978 FESTIVAL / DONATED BY M. ROLLEY"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of the site where the re-enactment of Charles Grimes' survey party of 1803 took place during the Kew Festival of 1978.Annotated on reverse: "GRIMES LANDING SITE / 1978 / DONATED BY MRS DEAN"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of the [unhistoric] report by a Trinity Grammar School student, dressed in costume as the surveyor Charles Grimes, reporting to the then Mayor of Kew, Cr Noel Whiting. Wurundjeri warriors are in the foreground. .Annotated on reverse: "GRIMES REPORTING TO MAYOR"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of a bush band comprised of students from Trinity Grammar School, performing at the Festival of Kew in 1978..Annotated on reverse: "BUSH BAND TRINITY / FESTIVAL 1978 / PLAYING TO CROWD"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of the District Commissioner and girl guides at the Charles Grimes re-enactment.Annotated on reverse: "DIST. COMMISSIONER / GIRL GUIDES AT FESTIVAL"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of Cr Allan Hutchinson reciting the program of events at the Charles Grimes re-enactmentAnnotated on reverse: "CR HUTCHINSON READING PROGRAM / 1978 FESTIVAL"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of the Trinity Grammar School bush band with Mrs Hutchinson and Whiting in the background. The band played at the re-enactment in period costume. Annotated on reverse: "BAND LEADER / 1978 FESTIVAL"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival, cr allan hutchinson, cr noel whiting

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of the Mayor of Kew, Cr Noel Whiting, and Cr Allan Hutchinson in period costume as a 'town crier'. Two 'brownies', part of a larger group, stand with their backs to the camera in the foreground. Annotated on reverse: :BROWNIES AT FESTIVAL / [UPPER RIGHT] M.ROLLEY, J. STEWART"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival, mavis rolley, joy stewart

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of a Trinity Grammar School student in period costume reciting the report of his survey of the Yarra at the 1978 Kew Festival. . Annotated on reverse: "GRIMES GIVING A REPORT OF HIS JOURNEY / BACK VIEW"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of the crowd on the riverbank during the Charles Grimes re-enactment. Annotated on reverse: "FESTIVAL ON THE YARRA 1978"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival

At the 1978 Festival of Kew, a number of organisations, including the City of Kew, the Kew Historical Society, Trinity Boys Grammar School and local Girl Guides participated in a re-enactment of the expedition of the party of Charles Grimes in surveying the Yarra River as far as Kew in February 1803. The location for the event was Yarra Bend Park near the Studley Park Boat House. The event was organised by the Kew Historical Society. The re-enactment was captured by a number of amateur photographers as well as by a photographer from the local Progress Press.Local communities select events to commemorate according to their shared history and values. Commemorations of colonial exploration were popular with local historical groups such as the Kew Historical Society in the twentieth century. In re-enacting events such as the Grimes survey of the Yarra, students from a local school were encouraged to take on specific roles, including play-acting individuals involved in the survey party as well as members of the local Wurundjeri People. The photographs, taken by amateur and professional photographers, represent a period in time when the dominant values were those shared by the descendants of European settlers in Victoria. Original colour photographic positive of six students from Trinity Grammar School, dressed in period costume, enacting in 1978 the arrival of the surveyor Charles Grimes at Studley Park in 1803. Annotated on reverse: "BOAT CREW / TRINITY BOYS AS GRIMES PARTY / 1978"kew historical society, trinity grammar school, kew girl guides, city of kew, yarra river, charles grimes, collins expedition, wurundjeri people, yarra bend park, colonial surveys, historic re-enactments, festival of kew, kew festival

The first Kew Festival was in 1974. Since the 1980s, it has been an annual community event.Green and Yellow Kew Festival button issued in 1988I'M A KEWITE IN 88kew festival, souvenirs, badges

The Kew Light Opera Company was formed in 1952, and mounted a number of musical and variety productions each year until it was subsumed in the "Q" Theatre Guild in 1957. A partial record of performances by the company includes: 1952 Florodora, 1953 The Cingalee - San Toy or The Emperor's Own, 1954 While the Sun Shines - A Country Girl - Our Miss Gibbs, 1955 The Toreador - The Arcadians, 1956 The Maid of the Mountains - Whiteoaks - Goodnight Vienna!, 1957 A Country Girl. Most of the Company's performances took place in the Kew Recreation Hall in Wellington Street, Kew. The scrapbook of annotated photographs, programmes, and newspaper reviews of which this item is a part was assembled by Marion Tilley, wardrobe mistress for, and performer in, productions by the Kew Light Opera Company and the "Q" Theatre Guild. It is significant as a remarkably complete document of theatre performances in Kew, Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook, and the items individually catalogued within it, have artistic and aesthetic significance within the history of performing arts in Victoria in the middle of the 20th Century. They have social significance in that they reveal socio-cultural values and preoccupations during the period. The records also act as a history of arts activities in the Kew Recreation Hall and later in the Kew City Hall as entertainment and community arts and music precincts.Black and white photograph of cast members in The Kew Light Opera Company's Australian premiere of Goodnight Vienna!, performed during the 1957 Moomba Festival in the Alexandra Gardens and also in the Kew Recreation Hall. Goodnight Vienna! was composed by George Posford with additional lyrics by H. V. Purcell. The lyrics were by Holt Marvell who had written the book on which the musical was based. Goodnight Vienna! was produced and directed for The Kew Light Opera Company by Lance Nicholls with musical direction by John Trotter. The scenery and lighting was designed by James L. Alexander, while the costumes were by Ada Colton.Marion Tilley has written underneath the photograph: "In Alexandra Gardens. Moomba Festival"performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, kew light opera company, kew recreation hall, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria, alexandra gardens - melbourne

The "Q" Theatre Guild was formed out of the Kew Light Opera Company in 1957. It marked the transition of the company that had initially been directed by Lance Nicholls to one directed by Beatrice Oakley. It continued to perform in the Kew Recreation Hall, but, with its demolition in 1960, and the opening of the new Kew City Hall in Cotham Road, moved its productions to that venue. Productions of the "Q" Theatre Guild included The Geisha (1957), Maritana (1958), They All Do It (1959), Blossom Time (1959), Love's A Luxury (1959), There And Back & The Bohemian Girl (1960), Die Fledermaus (1960), Gay Rosalinda (1961), The Land Of Smiles (1961), Kisses For A Kid & Hansel And Gretel (1961), Die Fledermaus (1962), Monsieur Beaucaire (1964), Macbeath or The Beggar's Opera, and So To Bed.The scrapbook of annotated photographs, programmes, and newspaper reviews of which this item is a part was assembled by Marion Tilley, wardrobe mistress for, and performer in, productions by the Kew Light Opera Company and the "Q" Theatre Guild. It is significant as a remarkably complete document of theatre performances in Kew, Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook, and the items individually catalogued within it, have artistic and aesthetic significance within the history of performing arts in Victoria in the middle of the 20th Century. They have social significance in that they reveal socio-cultural values and preoccupations during the period. The records also act as a history of arts activities in the Kew Recreation Hall and later in the Kew City Hall as entertainment and community arts and music precincts.Faded photograph of Jeanette Rayment in full costume in the Royal Botanical Gardens to promote The "Q" Theatre Guild's performances of Blossom Time during the Moomba Festival of 1959. The performances took place in the Alexandra Gardens. Rayment played the role of Therese in the production.Marion Tilley, the creator of the scrapbook, wrote the following underneath the photograph: "Jeanette Rayment, Botanical Gardens, promoting Blossom Time."performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, 'q' theatre guild, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria, kew recreation hall

The "Q" Theatre Guild was formed out of the Kew Light Opera Company in 1957. It marked the transition of the company that had initially been directed by Lance Nicholls to one directed by Beatrice Oakley. It continued to perform in the Kew Recreation Hall, but, with its demolition in 1960, and the opening of the new Kew City Hall in Cotham Road, moved its productions to that venue. Productions of the "Q" Theatre Guild included The Geisha (1957), Maritana (1958), They All Do It (1959), Blossom Time (1959), Love's A Luxury (1959), There And Back & The Bohemian Girl (1960), Die Fledermaus (1960), Gay Rosalinda (1961), The Land Of Smiles (1961), Kisses For A Kid & Hansel And Gretel (1961), Die Fledermaus (1962), Monsieur Beaucaire (1964), Macbeath or The Beggar's Opera, and So To Bed.The scrapbook of annotated photographs, programmes, and newspaper reviews of which this item is a part was assembled by Marion Tilley, wardrobe mistress for, and performer in, productions by the Kew Light Opera Company and the "Q" Theatre Guild. It is significant as a remarkably complete document of theatre performances in Kew, Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook, and the items individually catalogued within it, have artistic and aesthetic significance within the history of performing arts in Victoria in the middle of the 20th Century. They have social significance in that they reveal socio-cultural values and preoccupations during the period. The records also act as a history of arts activities in the Kew Recreation Hall and later in the Kew City Hall as entertainment and community arts and music precincts.Faded photograph of Esme Melville and Jeanette Rayment in full costume in the Royal Botanical Gardens to promote The "Q" Theatre Guild's performances of Blossom Time during the Moomba Festival of 1959. The performances took place in the Alexandra Gardens. In the production, Melville performed the role of Countess Fritzi Frangipani, while Rayment played the role of Therese.Marion Tilley, the creator of the scrapbook, wrote the following underneath the photograph: "Esme Melville, Jeanette Rayment, Botanical Gardens, *** Blossom Time."performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, 'q' theatre guild, kew recreation hall, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria