Historical information

The play was produced by EJ Carroll at the Athenaeum Theatre, the Australian premiere. The play enjoyed a long and successful run with Frank Bradley setting a record by performing as leading man for forty weeks.

Significance

Frank Talbot had leased the Athenaeum Hall for several years before negotiating with the Melbourne Athenaeum board members to renovate the hall into a modern theatre. The work was completed in 1923. The theatre became a well-known venue for plays but later, as movies became popular a biograph box was constructed to house movie projectors. The theatre manager, Frank Talbot, who leased the theatre from the Melbourne Athenaeum, signed an agreement with British Dominion Films in 1932, to show only British movies. Hoyts Theatres took over the lease in 1955 and later the Melbourne Theatre Company performed in the theatre, bringing live performances back to the theatre for several years. Programs of the early performances of plays are a reminder of the original purpose of the theatre. The theatre management continues to feature live performances.

Physical description

Photocopy of a program held at the Museum of Performing Arts