COLLECTION FINDING AID Phillip Street Theatre Performing Arts Programs and Ephemera (PROMPT) Australian ColleCtion Development The Phillip Street Theatre (sucCeeded by the Phillip Theatre) was a popular and influential commercial Sydney theatre and theatriCal Company of the 1950s and 1960s that beCame well known for its intimate satiriCal revue produCtions. William Orr was the Company’s founding DireCtor of ProduCtions, and EriC DuCkworth was General Manager. After taking over the MerCury Theatre in Phillip Street, William Orr re- opened it as the Phillip Street Theatre in 1954, presenting a series of “Phillip Street Revues” and children's musicals, including Top of the Bill and Hit and Run (both 1954), Willow Pattern Plate (1957), Cross Section (1957-58), Ride on a Broomstick (1959), Mistress Money (1960). These featured many noted Australian performers, many who later went on to beCome well known film, theatre and television personalities, inCluding Gordon Chater, Margot Lee, Barry Creyton, Jill Perryman, Noeline Brown, Robina Beard, Judi Farr, Kevin Miles, Charles "Bud" Tingwell, Ray Barrett, Ruth CraCknell, June Salter, John Meillon, Barry Humphries, Reg Livermore, Peter Phelps, and Gloria Dawn. The Phillip Street Theatre was demolished at the time of Out on a Limb with Bobby Limb and Dawn Lake in 1961, and the Company moved to the Australian Hall at 150 Elizabeth Street, near Liverpool Street. The Company's name was then shortened to the Phillip Theatre in reCognition of this move. Content Printed materials in the PROMPT ColleCtion include programs and printed ephemera such as broChures, leaflets, tiCkets, etC. Theatre programs are taken as the prime doCumentary evidenCe of a performanCe at the Phillip Street Theatre. In a few Cases however, the only evidenCe of a performanCe is a piece of printed ephemera. In these Cases the type of pieCe is identified, e.g. broChure. The list is based on imperfeCt holdings and is updated as gaps in the Library’s holdings are filled. Unless otherwise stated, all entries are based on published programs in the PROMPT collection. www.nla.gov.au Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.1 Australia February 2012 Collection Finding Aid Phillip Street Theatre Access The Phillip Street Theatre PROMPT files may be aCCessed through the Library’s Petherick Reading Room by eCallslip request: Arrangement This Finding Aid is Chronological by year and then by month, week or day. All dating is based on evidence in the programs or other ephemera. Entries for eaCh program are arranged as follows: • Year, day/s and month (Venue/Theatre and City) • DireCtor/ProduCer, featured aCtors • Name of production An Index is also provided listing production name, City and year. Other Library holdings relating to the Phillip Street Theatre See also other material relating to the Phillip Street Theatre available through the Library’s catalogue See also Phillip Street Theatre in the TROVE disCovery service whiCh inCludes performanCe reviews and advertisements in Australian newspaper and magazines as well as other arChival and piCtorial material. 2│17 www.nla.gov.au February 2012 Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.1 Australia Collection Finding Aid Phillip Street Theatre 1954 CommenCing 7 May Top of the Bill Starring: Ken Hannam, Charles Tingwell, Gordon Chater, John Mellion, Peter Collins, Lyle O’Hara, Lola Brooks, John Fleming, Margo Lee 3 programs CommenCing 9 OCtober Hit and Run Starring: Bettina WelCh, Lola Brooks, Susanne Musitz, June Salter, Lyle O’Hara, Ray Barrett, Charles Tingwell, Gordon Chater, John Ewart 3 programs 1955 CommenCing 20 January Hat Trick Starring: Max Oldaker, Aileen Britton, Sheila Helpmann, Shirley Sunners, Lyle O’Hara, June Salter, Paula Langlands, Diana Davidson 3 programs CommenCing 12 May Happy Returns Starring: Lyle O’Hara, Margo Lee, Gordon Chater, Ray Barrett, John Meillon 1 program CommenCing 22 June The Duenna Starring: Ruth CraCknell, Gordon Chater 4 programs CommenCing 5 November Two to One Starring: Max Oldaker, Barbara Wyndon, Diana Field, Wendy Blacklock, Pat Pearson, JoyCe Quealy, Gina Curtis 3 programs Celebrating Our First Year... Souvenir booklet (2 Copies) 1956 CommenCing 11 May Mr & Mrs Starring: Nola Lester, Johnny O’Connor, Barry Humphries, Brenda Humphries 3 programs CommenCing 1 August Around the Loop Starring: Max Oldaker, June Salter, Gordon Chater, Barry Humphries et al. 5 programs www.nla.gov.au 3│17 Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.1 Australia February 2012 Collection Finding Aid Phillip Street Theatre CommenCing 14 DeCember Alice in Wonderland (pantomime) Starring: Shirley Regan, Max Oldaker, June Salter, Gordon Chater, Barry Humphries, John Fleming et al. 1 program 1957 CommenCing 29 June Willow Pattern Plate Starring: John Parker, Maree Austin, Rhonny Gabriel, Owen Weingott, Reginald Livermore, Leon Thau et al. 3 programs CommenCing 12 September Cross Section Starring: June Salter, Ruth Cracknell, Yolanda Rodrigues, Antonio Rodrigues, John Parker, Rhonny Gabriel 6 programs 1958 Country tour of Queensland and New South Wales throughout 1958 The Willow Pattern Plate Starring: JaniCe Goldman, Ian Field, John Beach, JoyCe Simmons, Peter Kenna, Tony Bazell, Robina Beard 1 program CommenCing 1 OCtober Bats Starring: Lyle O’Hara, Jill Perryman, Alton Harvey, John Bluthal, Ronald Frazer 2 programs CommenCing 26 DeCember; Alice in Wonderland (pantomime) Starring: Dawne MCFarlane, Max Meldrum, Ian Burgis, Alton Harvey, John UniComb, Robina Beard 1 program 1959 CommenCing 5 May The Birthday Show Starring: Lyle O’Hara, Jill Perryman, Alton Harvey, John Bluthal, Ronald Frazer 3 programs CommenCing 15 July Meet Joyce Grenfell Starring JoyCe Grenfell 2 programs 4│17 www.nla.gov.au February 2012 Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.1 Australia Collection Finding Aid Phillip Street Theatre CommenCing 21 OCtober Hey Diddle Diddle Starring: Gordon Chater, Lyle O’Hara, Jill Perryman, Kevan Johnston 3 programs CommenCing 26 DeCember A Ride on a Broomstick (pantomime) Starring: Gordon Chater, Barbara Wyndon, et al. 1 program 1960 CommenCing 27 April Phillip Street Revue Starring: Max Oldaker, Lyle O’Hara, Jill Perryman, Kevan Johnston 3 programs CommenCing 27 May Mistress Money Starring: Gordon Chater, Sheila Bradley,Wendy Blacklock, John UniComb 2 programs 1961 CommenCing 8 MarCh Out on a Limb Starring: Bobby Limb, Dawn Lake, Bettina WelCh, Helen Lorain et al. 1 program CommenCing 17 May Stop Press Starring: Stewart Ginn, Barbara Wyndon, Brigid Lenihan, Dibbs Mather, Jud Farr et al. 3 programs CommenCing 7 OCtober Yes Please Starring: Gordon Chater, Jill Perryman, Jim Hannan, Judi Farr, Mary Hardy 5 programs 1962 CommenCing 30 MarCh At It Again Starring: Gordon Chater, Jill Perryman, Kevan Johnston, Ray Taylor, Judi Farr 4 programs CommenCing 6 July What’s New? Starring: Janet Brown, Noeline Brown, Barry Creyton, Earle Cross, Margaret DenCe 2 programs www.nla.gov.au 5│17 Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.1 Australia February 2012 Collection Finding Aid Phillip Street Theatre CommenCing 8 September Beyond the Fringe Starring: Barry Brown, Alastair DunCan, John Ewart, Brian Tapply 2 programs CommenCing 26 DeCember A Wish is a Dream (pantomime) Starring: Valda Bagnall, Bryan Davies, JaCkie Weaver, Neva Carr Glyn, Dolore Whiteman, Terry MitChell 1 program, 1 flyer 1963 CommenCing 1 February Flaming Youth Starring: George Foster, Jill Perryman, Shirley Sunners, Robina Beard, Dolore Whiteman, Alton Harvey et al. 2 programs CommenCing 10 May Do You Mind! Starring: Gordon Chater, Jill Perryman, Diana Perryman 2 programs CommenCing 13 November The Private Ear – the Public Eye Starring: Judith Stott, Gordon Chater, Max Osbiston 2 programs 1964 CommenCing 23 MarCh The Importance of Being Oscar Starring: MiCheal MacLiammoir 2 programs CommenCing 4 May I Must Be Talking To My Friends Starring: MiCheal MaCLiammoir 1 program CommenCing 16 May Rattle of a Simple Man Starring: John Meillon, June Salter, Kerry FranCis 2 programs CommenCing 27 July Breakfast with Julia Starring: James Condon, Marie Redshaw, Glenna Brydon, James Mellen 1 program, 1 flyer 6│17 www.nla.gov.au February 2012 Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.1 Australia Collection Finding Aid Phillip Street Theatre CommenCing 3 October Is Australia Really Necessary? Starring: Miriam Karlin, Red Moore, Barbara Wyndon et al. 3 programs 1965 CommenCing 19 February The Knack Starring: Reginald Livermore, Janne Coghlan, Tom Oliver, Peter Whitford 2 programs CommenCing 29 May A Severed Head Starring: Robin Bailey, Diana Perryman, MiChael Blakemore 2 programs CommenCing 3 September Tintookies The Marionette Theatre of Australia’s presentation of Peter SCriven’s original Tintookies 1 program CommenCing 18 September A Cup of Tea, a Bex and a Good Lie Down Starring: Gloria Dawn, John Ewart, Reginald Livermore, Brigid Lenihan, Kevan Johnston, Judith Roberts, Donald MaCDonald, Barbara Wyndon 7 programs 1966 CommenCing 7 September The Fantasticks Starring: Willie Fennell, Rosalind Seagreave, Brian Hannan, Ron Shand, Robin Cuming, Frank Lloyd 1 program CommenCing 8 OCtober Private Yuk Objects Starring: Graeme Blundell, Alan Hopgood, Brian James, JessiCa Noad, MiChael Duffield et al. Presented by the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust, a Union Repetory Company produCtion 2 programs CommenCing 12 November Luv Starring: Alastair DunCan, Diana Davidson, Mark MCManus, Ian Cadenhead 2 programs www.nla.gov.au 7│17 Creative Commons