Historical information
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.
Significance
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.
Physical description
Black and white photograph of Joan Hutchinson, playing Cilli, an errand girl in a flower shop, in the Kew Light Opera Company's performance of Goodnight Vienna! in 1957. The theatre programme for the production notes that: "Joan Hutchinson (Cilli) made her first appearance with the Company as "Vittoria" in "The Maid of the Mountains" and was an instant success. Before coming to us she had played in "Alaya" by the Australian composer, Edith Harrhy, and now as "Cilli" has the opportunity of creating another successful memorable part."
Inscriptions & markings
Inscribed beside the photo in the scrapbook by Marion Tilley: "Joan Hutchinson".