We bet that when you go to a show you buy a theatre programme. But have you ever thought about how they came to be?
If you’re anything like us you’ve probably kept some of them, tucked away, to look back on in years to come.
This interesting article, originally written by Michael Davies, is in a previous edition of the Winter Gardens magazine. It explains how these little booklets came to be.
Have you got old programmes, tucked away in a dusty box?
How the Theatre Programme Begins
Since the Middle Ages it had been customary to hand-out a single sheet handbill to patrons of British Theatres. Originally posters, they announced the arrival in town of theatrical entertainment.
The single sheet handbills gradually borrowed the name ‘programme’ from musical concerts. There, the audience received a pamphlet with a list of musical items to be performed.
The type of theatre programme that we’re familiar with today first appeared in late Victorian days.
Roll-up, Roll-up!
By now, more theatres being built. The general public has more choice of where to go for their entertainment. And where to spend their hard earned money.
So the actor-managers and theatre owners became more creative about how they enticed patrons to their shows and venues. They began to compete with each other – offering cloakroom facilities and – yes, that’s right. Free programmes.
With the passage of time, theatres began to think about how their ‘free’ programmes could make some money, which is when adverts began to appear.
By Edwardian times the programmes were considerably more elaborate. They had illustrations or postcards of the stars or maybe scenes from the show.
Paper Shortages
Who knows how elaborate these show souvenirs would have become if their development hadn’t been halted by the outbreak of war.
The two world wars, shortages of paper, hard times and government taxes heralded a scaling down of the theatre programme for many years.
The Theatre Programme Today
But in the 1960’s and 70’s, as things began to improve, so did the theatre programme. Now, the souvenir booklet that we’re familiar with was back!
Here at Visit Fylde Coast we also saved some theatre tickets in that dusty box. Remember any of these old favourites?
While you’re here…
Go to the homepage of the Visit Fylde Coast website for the latest updates.
Love the Fylde Coast? Sign up for your email newsletter. Packed full of interesting things it arrives in your inbox all 52 weeks of the year.
👉Join us on Facebook at our Visit Fylde Coast Facebook Group. Plus hundreds of videos to watch on our YouTube channel – from all over the Fylde Coast!
📣JOIN our new VFC WhatsApp Channel for what’s happening, interesting local information, history, communities, events and much more.
Booking a stay? Pick a safe, clean and legal place to stay, at the very best price. Book using the Visit Fylde Coast Accommodation guide.
