Playbill

Theatres and pleasure gardens in the 19th century competed to attract audiences, vying with each other to offer evermore extravagant and spectacular entertainments. Technical developments in the printing industry brought new typefaces which they seized upon to create bold and eye-catching playbills. The promised attractions were described in great detail and often illustrated with wood-block engravings.

The zoo proprietor Edward Cross opened his zoological gardens (soon to become known as the Royal Surrey Zoological Gardens) in 1831 in the grounds of Walworth Manor House, Kennington. Offering both exotic animals and spectacular entertainments, it was a serious rival to London's most famous pleasure gardens at Vauxhall. Its menagerie included an Indian rhinoceros, an orang-utan and three giraffes. Firework displays, flower shows, promenade concerts, balloon ascents and life-size painted views were regular spectacles.

This playbill advertises a series of concerts in June 1848 conducted by the tireless French conductor, Louis Antoine Jullien, who was famous for his spectacular productions. On one occasion in 1849 a 400 piece orchestra, three military bands, three choirs and numerous vocal and instrumental soloists performed in a single concert.