PHOTOGRAPHY AND THEATRE : COLONIAL CAMP LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND
[A collection of three early playbills, and accompanying scrap-sheet of 10 early photographic views and explanatory text, with a scrap of 'Native's writing found in a native's pocket'].
[New Zealand].
[1860s]
Folio.
- Three playbills 560mm x 230mm, with dates (and cast corrections) added in ink, featuring scheduled entertainment at Mr Roger's Canteen, Otahuhu Camp for Wednesday 9th and Friday 11th March (two copies on yellow paper) and 2) for Thursday 17th March 1864 (on pink paper). Rolled; a little creased and with old pin fixing to upper left-hand corner, else fine.
- A separate bifolium with nine albumen photographs relating to Otahuhu, other British camps and scenes in and around Auckland, with manuscript descriptions of seven of these tipped in on blue notepaper. Accompanied with a separate manuscript description, pasted above it, is a 'A view of the native position at Meremere ['The Sebastopol of the South'] as seen from the Waikato River'. Pasted in on the opposite side is a scrap of manuscript in Maori on light blue paper with a vertical addition in English: ‘Native writing found in a native’s pocket'. Some chipping and tearing to extremities.
- A separate bifolium with nine albumen photographs relating to Otahuhu, other British camps and scenes in and around Auckland, with manuscript descriptions of seven of these tipped in on blue notepaper. Accompanied with a separate manuscript description, pasted above it, is a 'A view of the native position at Meremere ['The Sebastopol of the South'] as seen from the Waikato River'. Pasted in on the opposite side is a scrap of manuscript in Maori on light blue paper with a vertical addition in English: ‘Native writing found in a native’s pocket'. Some chipping and tearing to extremities.
A fascinating archive of Colonial Camp life in New Zealand during the Land Wars - all the more insightful given the added manuscript captions to photographic views - doubtless collected by a military officer stationed at the Otahuhu Camp, north of Auckland, whilst it was being used as a critical staging point for the British invasion.
The well-captioned photographs show, amongst other views, the 12th and 14th Regiments of the British Army formed up on parade at Otahuhu. These regiments were amongst those that formed a frontal assault at the Battle of Rangiriri in November of 1863.
The light entertainment featured on the bills took place during the Invasion of Waikato, the largest and most significant campaign of the New Zealand Wars; they are truly revealing of the both organisation of the camp (evidently with entertainment and perhaps other provisions supplied by Mr Rogers) and what filled the leisure hours of those living in the Otahuhu camp. The dramas performed; J. T. Haines' The idiot witness and Edward Fitzball's The Momentous Question were both of the eminently swashbuckling variety, the first a 'blood and thunder' melodramas, popular on the Regency stage, and the second an early Victorian 'domestic drama' of smugglers and prison visits. Other items featured included dance, music and songs - including the ever popular 'Hornpipe', and, fittingly, 'a Military Band'. Prices ranged from a shilling in the gallery, to three in the first circle, with Door's open at '9 o'clock', and the curtain rising 'Precisely at 9.30pm. As the bill notes, they were offered by the proprietor 'In returning thanks to the Officers and Troops in Camp, and the Gentry of Otahuhu and its vicinity, for the liberal support... ', and signed in print by G.J. Dormer (Director) and H. Warnecke (Manager).
Whilst theatricals were evidently popular in Auckland 1840s, and in the military camps during the 1850s - blossoming in Gold Towns during the 1860s - we could find very few records of surviving playbills. Indeed, we could locate no other playbills at all printed, as here, at the office of the New Zealander (presumably in Auckland); or indeed any reference to theatricals at the Royal Surrey Theatre in Otahuhu (or elsewhere in New Zealand), in the usual databases.
£ 4,500.00
Antiquates Ref: 34275
The well-captioned photographs show, amongst other views, the 12th and 14th Regiments of the British Army formed up on parade at Otahuhu. These regiments were amongst those that formed a frontal assault at the Battle of Rangiriri in November of 1863.
The light entertainment featured on the bills took place during the Invasion of Waikato, the largest and most significant campaign of the New Zealand Wars; they are truly revealing of the both organisation of the camp (evidently with entertainment and perhaps other provisions supplied by Mr Rogers) and what filled the leisure hours of those living in the Otahuhu camp. The dramas performed; J. T. Haines' The idiot witness and Edward Fitzball's The Momentous Question were both of the eminently swashbuckling variety, the first a 'blood and thunder' melodramas, popular on the Regency stage, and the second an early Victorian 'domestic drama' of smugglers and prison visits. Other items featured included dance, music and songs - including the ever popular 'Hornpipe', and, fittingly, 'a Military Band'. Prices ranged from a shilling in the gallery, to three in the first circle, with Door's open at '9 o'clock', and the curtain rising 'Precisely at 9.30pm. As the bill notes, they were offered by the proprietor 'In returning thanks to the Officers and Troops in Camp, and the Gentry of Otahuhu and its vicinity, for the liberal support... ', and signed in print by G.J. Dormer (Director) and H. Warnecke (Manager).
Whilst theatricals were evidently popular in Auckland 1840s, and in the military camps during the 1850s - blossoming in Gold Towns during the 1860s - we could find very few records of surviving playbills. Indeed, we could locate no other playbills at all printed, as here, at the office of the New Zealander (presumably in Auckland); or indeed any reference to theatricals at the Royal Surrey Theatre in Otahuhu (or elsewhere in New Zealand), in the usual databases.
