Programme for a performance of the Gilbert and Sullivan opera “The Gondoliers” at the Gaiety Theatre in Hastings during the week of 25 August 1890. Presented by the D'Oyly Carte E-Company, the cast is exactly as predicted in Rollins & Witts. The large-format four-sided programme has at some point been glued into an album and then cut out, removing most of the advertisements but leaving the “meat”, i.e. the data on the front cover, the cast list & forthcoming events are all still present, as is the central fold by which the programme opens. The back cover is not visible other by holding the programme to a strong light but it consisted of only adverts. A partial news clipping adheres to the back and the programme was dated by the original owner on the cover, showing that it was issued at the Saturday 30th August performance. The surviving portion of the programme is c.7" x 7.5".

This item was formerly in the collection of John Cannon, the respected G&S collector and researcher who died in 2021. He left instructions that all collectors should have a chance to acquire the treasures in his collection, which will therefore be auctioned here over the next year or so by StageMemories and PaperJoys. Please let us know if you would like to be added to a mailing list, to be informed of all or specific items from John’s collection.