Photograph, Kew Light Opera Company, A Country Girl, 1957

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

Sepia-toned photograph of (L. to R.) Marion Smith, Maureen Lynch, Denise Lynch, and Marion Tilley in a performance of A Country Girl by Lionel Monckton. The performance was produced and directed by Graeme Cust with musical direction by John Trotter. The sets for the production in the Kew Recreation Hall were sourced from Melbourne Little Theatre, will the costumes came from the Princess Theatre. During this production, Marion Tilley acted as wardrobe mistress as well as being a member of the 'Chorus Ladies'.

Inscriptions & markings

Inscribed underneath the photo in the scrapbook by Marion Tilley: "Marion Smith, Maureen Lynch, Denise Lynch. Me, Marion Tilley".

Other parts of this item

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