Museum in Docklands — 1987
Big Bill's Benefit play
A publicity poster for Trevor Lloyd's community play 'Big Bill's Benefit' staged in the Royal Docks, Newham in 1987.
The play was organised by the Stratford based community theatre company 'Theatre Venture' and involved several hundred local people as performers, musicians and production assistants. The play was a celebration of the life and work of Music Hall impresario William Holland. During the 1870s - 1880s Holland managed a number of music halls in the East End (including Wiltons) and other parts of London, and also the pleasure gardens at North Woolwich. Later in life he also ran a music hall on the Great Eastern when she was moored in the Mersey.
The show was held in the warehouses at the Royal Docks and featured a range of music hall and circus acts, and finished with a 'grand spectacular - "Vesuvius in Eruption". The event was supported by a wide range of organisations, from the LDDC, to Tate & Lyle, to the Local Studies Library.
- Category:
- —
- Object ID:
- 2009.22/1
- Object name:
- Big Bill's Benefit play
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- Related events:
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- Production date:
- 1987
- Material:
paper
- Measurements/duration:
- H 755 mm, W 500 mm
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
unknown
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.