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.
Sepia-toned photograph of a group of performers and organisers in the "Q" Theatre Guild's performances of Gay Rosalinda, an arrangement of Johann Strauss' Die Fledermaus. The performance took place in the new Kew City Hall, with scenery created by Robert Jewell and Claud Ward. Costumes were designed and made by Marion Tilley. A characterful photograph that includes Marg Moir - Ida/rehearsal pianist, Phil Wakenshaw - Props, Marion Tilley - costume designer and wardrobe, Den Lynch, Maureen Lynch, and Mary Dupuy.
Marion Tilley, the creator of the scrapbook, wrote the following underneath the photograph: "Marg Moir, Phil Wakenshaw, Self, Wendy ****, Maureen Lynch, Mary Dupuy". She was to add at a later date: "My dress was grey satin. Denise Lynch: brother Phil Lynch MP. Mary Dupuy went for holiday with daughter 1962 became ill in car was dead by the time a doctor arrived."
performing arts -- kew (vic.), scrapbooks, marion tilley collection, 'q' theatre guild, musical comedy -- melbourne -- victoria, kew city hall -- cotham road -- kew (vic.)