ROB WILTON
THEATRICALIA
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1946: THIS WAY TO THE TOMB! - Ronald Duncan, music by Benjamin Britten (Garrick)
Robert Speaight, Alan Wheatley, Frank Napier, Eleanor Summerfield, Gwen Nelson, Con Moto Choir (incl.M.Sinclair, Eric Shilling); dir:E.Martin Browne (The Mercury and Pilgrim Players) [6pp triple-fold; unusual; flimsy, slightly rumpled, else VG] (£4) SOLD

1946 (Wed 10 July): THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA - Benjamin Britten (Glyndebourne)
Glyndebourne Productions: Programme for the 6.15 Dress Rehearsal (the opera opened on 12 July); w.Peter Pears, Joan Cross, Kathleen Ferrier, Otakar Kraus, Owen Brannigan, Edmund Donleavy, Anna Pollak, Margaret Ritchie; c:Ernest Ansermet, dir:Eric Crozier, des:John Piper [4pp; 7.2x9.7; cast and orchestra list, future plans, note on the opera; light horizontal fold, slightly rumpled, else VG - highly unusual] (£12) SOLD

1951 (Jun): LET'S MAKE AN OPERA - Benjamin Britten (Sparrow's Nest Theatre, Lowestoft)
English Opera Group: Gladys Parr, George Prangnell, Doreen Orme, Pamela Woolmore, John Banks, Derek Mitchell, Francis Adamson, Eileen Grice, Reginald Blowers, Sally Kiddel, Andrew Gold, English Opera Group Chamber Orchestra c:Norman Del Mar, dir:Basil Coleman [4pp, 5.75x8.9; cast, credits, synopsis of scenes, etc.; slightly creased, else VG] (£4) SOLD

1952 (19 Oct): OPERA CONCERT (Odeon Cinema, Lowestoft)
English Opera Group: Joan Cross, Anna Pollak, Peter Pears, Trevor Anthony, Benjamin Britten (piano), introduced by The Earl of Harewood; the concert consisted of arias and ensembles from DIE ENTFUHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL, COSI FAN TUTTE, DON GIOVANNI, LA FORZA DEL DESTINO, IL TROVATORE, SIMONE BOCCANEGRA, UN BALLO IN MASCHERA, LA TRAVIATA, FIDELIO, BORIS GODUNOV, THE BARTERED BRIDE, DIE FLEDERMAUS, and THE BEGGAR'S OPERA [8pp, 7.25x9.75; article about the English Opera Group by the Earl of Harewood, biography of Benjamin Britten (w.photo), programme of events, biographies of all the singers (w.photos); uncommon; slightly creased, else VG] £5

1954 (30 Sep): TALK BY THE EARL OF HAREWOOD on THE TURN OF THE SCREW (Wigmore Hall)
English Opera Group: Talk given a week before the British Premiere, and illustrated by the original cast: Jennifer Vyvyan, Peter Pears, David Hemmings, Olive Dyer, Joan Cross, Arda Mandikian, Benjamin Britten (piano) [4pp; cast list, synopses, press extracts; light horizontal crease, else VG] (£12) SOLD

1954 (11 & 16 Oct): THE TURN OF THE SCREW - Britten (Sadler's Wells)
English Opera Group: Jennifer Vyvyan, Peter Pears, David Hemmings, Olive Dyer, Joan Cross, Arda Mandikian; c:Benjamin Britten, dir:Basil Coleman [12pp, 5.6"x8.5"; cast list, list of scenes, synopsis, credits etc.; slightly rumpled, else VG] £5

1955 (24/29 Sep): FACADE and A DINNER ENGAGEMENT (Scala)
English Opera Group: Programme and cast list enclosed in large Booklet for the EOG Autumn Season, containing notes on 1955 and 1956 Seasons, Repertory list, artists taking part, and associated adverts; cast for FACADE: Irene Worth, Peter Pears, c:Vilem Tausky; cast for A DINNER ENGAGEMENT: Thomas Hemsley, Emelie Hooke, Ann Dowdall, Catherine Lawson, Flora Neilson, Alexander Young, c:Vilem Tausky, dir:William Chappell [Large Booklet: 8pp, 8.5x11.25, rumpled with some minor edge damage; Cast List: 8pp, 7.25x9.5, w.words for 'Facade'; VG] (£5) SOLD

1955: LET'S MAKE AN OPERA! - Britten (Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham) Flyer
English Opera Group: Gladys Parr, Trevor Anthony, Rosemarie Hill, Norma Morgan, Maurice Wearmouth, David Oddie, Leighton Camden; c:Norman De Mar, Charles Mackerras [single-page flyer, 5.2x8.25; a remarkable survivor!; VG] £2

1959 (April): NOYE'S FLUDDE - Benjamin Britten (Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft)
English Opera Group: Owen Brannigan, Gladys Parr, Trevor Anthony, Thomas Bevan, Marcus Norman, Michael Crawford (as Jaffet), c:Charles Mackerras, dir:Colin Graham [4pp, 6.5x10; full cast lists, including the names of all the children in the large chorus and orchestra, credits, etc.; including the original audience music insert, marked PLEASE DO NOT TAKE AWAY (!); slightly creased, else VG] £5

1959 (Christmas): THE TURN OF THE SCREW - Britten (Associated-Rediffusion) Souvenir Brochure
English Opera Group: Souvenir booklet for the first full-length opera on the Independent Television Network; with Raymond Nilsson, Jennifer Vyvyan, Tom Bevan, Janette Miller, Judith Pearce, and Arda Mandikian; English Opera Group Orchestra c:Charles Mackerras; directed by Peter Morley, original scenery and costumes designed by John Piper [16pp, 8.5x11; cast list, 5 large colour designs, 6 cast photos (in character), 7 production photos, synopsis, notes by Benjamin Britten, Myfanwy Piper, John Piper, Peter Morley, Stephen Reiss (General Manager of the EOG); very slightly rumpled, else VG] £8

1962: ALBERT HERRING - Britten (Sadler's Wells)
English Opera Group: Kenneth Macdonald, Sylvia Fisher, Jennifer Vyvyan, Catherine Wilson, Sheila Rex, Monica Sinclair, John Noble, Edgar Evans, Harold Blackburn, Michael Maurel; English Chamber Orchestra c:Meredith Davies, dir:Colin Graham [16pp, 4.9x7.25; cast list, notes, memoir by Joan Cross etc.; VG] £3

1964 (Nov): THE TURN OF THE SCREW - Britten (Nuffield Theatre, Southampton)
English Opera Group: Robert Tear, April Cantelo/Catherine Wilson, John Newton/Robin Seaman, Jennifer Lilleystone/Sheila Amit, Victoria Elliott, Janice Chapman/Pat Brigenshaw; English Chamber Orchestra c:Bryan Balkwill, dir:Basil Coleman [8pp, 5x7.4; cast list, notes, synopsis, orchestra list etc.; slightly rumpled, else VG] £3

1964 (Nov): THE TURN OF THE SCREW - Britten (Arts Theatre, Cambridge)
English Opera Group: Robert Tear, Catherine Wilson/April Cantelo, John Newton/Robin Seaman, Sheila Amit/Jennifer Lilleystone, Victoria Elliott, Pat Brigenshaw/Janice Chapman; English Chamber Orchestra c:Bryan Balkwill/Benjamin Britten, dir:Basil Coleman [20pp, 5x7.4; cast list, notes, photo of Britten, synopsis, orchestra list etc.; VG] £3

1965 (July): LET'S MAKE AN OPERA! - Britten (Georgian Theatre, Richmond, Yorkshire)
English Opera Group: Brenda Marshall, Johanna Peters, Catherine Wilson, Bernard Dickerson, Norman Lumsden, Caroline Clack, Leonie Cosman, English Chamber Orchestra c:Meredith Davies, dir:Colin Graham [8pp, 6.5x8; cast list, credits etc.; slightly rumpled, else VG] £3

1966 (Jul): THE BURNING FIERY FURNACE - Britten (Southwark Cathedral)
English Opera Group: First London Performances, w.Bryan Drake, Peter Pears/Kenneth Macdonald, John Shirley-Quirk/John Gibbs, Robert Tear/Jack Irons, Victor Godfrey/Edgar Boniface, Philip Wait, Graham Allum, Peter Leeming, Malcolm Rivers; dir:Colin Graham [24pp, 7x9.25; Brochure for the 1966 Festival of the City of London: message from the Lord Mayor, Diary of events etc.; 2 photographs of 'The Burning Fiery Furnace'; cast, orchestra, credits, note by William Plomer; VG] (£5) SOLD

1966 (Oct): THE BEGGAR'S OPERA - Gay/Britten (Arts Theatre, Cambridge)
English Opera Group: Graham Allum, Malcolm Rivers, Clive Molloy, Harold Blackburn, Bernard Dickerson, Sheila Rex, Catherine Wilson, Jon Weaving, Edith Coates, Bryan Drake; English Opera Group Orchestra c:Richard Fisher/Norman del Mar, dir:Colin Graham [16pp, 7x9.25; cast list, synopsis, notes etc.; light horizontal bend, else VG] £3

1967 (14 Jul): CASTAWAY - Berkeley, and THE BEAR - Walton (Sadler's Wells)
English Opera Group: Geoffrey Chard, Patricia Clark, Jean Allister, Malcolm Rivers, Kenneth Macdonald, Monica Sinclair, Norman Lumsden, John Shaw, Jennifer Lilleystone, Graham Allum; c:Meredith Davies, James Lockhart; dir:Anthony Besch, Colin Graham [20pp; cast, orchestra, synopsis, details of 1967 Season; ticket stapled to cover (14 July); VG] £4

1967 (15 Jul): THE BEGGAR'S OPERA - Britten (Sadler's Wells)
English Opera Group: Graham Allum, Harold Blackburn, Bernard Dickerson, Edith Coates, Catherine Wilson, Jon Weaving, Malcolm Rivers, Jennifer Lilleystone, Bryan Drake, Anne Pashley; English Chamber Orchestra c:Steuart Bedford, dir:Colin Graham [20pp; cast, orchestra list, notes, details of 1967 Season; VG] £4

1968 (Jul): THE PRODIGAL SON - Britten (St.Paul's Cathedral)
English Opera Group: Gregory Dempsey, John Shirley-Quirk/Bryan Drake, Malcolm Rivers/Benjamin Luxon/Bryan Drake, Robert Tear/Bernard Dickerson, Paul Wade; dir:Colin Graham [4pp, 7.25x9.5; cast, credits, notes] (£4) SOLD

1969 (Sep-Oct): ENGLISH OPERA GROUP SEASON (Sadler's Wells) Repertoire Leaflet
English Opera Group: Full details of the EOG's season at Sadler's Wells, 27 September to 11 October 1969. Artists taking part included April Cantelo, Heather Harper, Jennifer Vyvyan, Janet Baker, Maureen Morelle, Johanna Peters, Graham Allum, James Bowman, Bernard Dickerson, Peter Pears, Robert Tear, John Winfield, Owen Brannigan, John Cameron, Geoffrey Chard, Bryan Drake, Neil Howlett, Norman Lumsden, Benjamin Luxon, Malcolm Rivers, John Shirley-Quirk; The English Opera Group Chorus and Orchestra was conducted by David Atherton, Steuart Bedford, Benjamin Britten, and Meredith Davies; the producers were Colin Graham and Anthony Besch; in the repertoire was THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA, PURGATORY and THE GRACE OF TODD (Gordon Crosse), A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, and PUNCH AND JUDY (Harrison Birtwhistle) [10pp quintuple-fold, 4.5x8.9; with performance schedule, ticket prices, box office details, 3 production photos, notes; uncommon; VG] (£4) SOLD

1972 (16+19 Oct): THE VISITORS - John Gardner (Sadler's Wells)
English Opera Group: Jean Allister, Nigel Douglas, Alexandra Browning, Bryan Drake, John Winfield (as The Swami); c:Steuart Bedford, dir:Anthony Besch [22pp; cast, orchestra, synopsis, notes, 2 production photos; VG] £4

1972 (18 Oct): THE BEAR - Walton, Monotones - Satie, Siesta - Walton, and FACADE - Walton (Sadler's Wells)
English Opera Group and The Royal Ballet: Patricia Kern, Norman Lumsden, Thomas Hemsley, Peter Pears; c:David Taylor, Ashley Lawrence [22pp; cast, orchestra, synopses, notes, 4 production photos; VG] £4

1973 (12+13+15 Sep): DEATH IN VENICE - Britten (Snape Malting)
English Opera Group: Peter Pears/Nigel Douglas, John Shirley-Quirk/Thomas Hemsley, James Bowman, Deanne Bergsma, Robert Hugenin; English Chamber Orchestra; c:Steuart Bedford, dir:Colin Graham [28pp; cast, notes, synopsis, note on Thomas Mann, orchestra and staff lists; also includes details of concerts in the season; premiere was 16 June 1973; w.2 complimentary tickets for 'Death in Venice' on 12 Sep; VG] £5

1974 (3+9+11 Oct): ALBERT HERRING - Britten (Sadler's Wells)
English Opera Group: Anthony Rolfe-Johnson/Keith Jones, Pauline Tinsley/Janice Chapman, Teresa Cahill/Norma Burrowes, Thomas Allen, Kathleen Smales, Anne Collins/Noreen Berry; English Opera Group Orchestra; c:David Shaw, dir:David William [18pp; 4 productions photos and one of Britten; cast, notes, orchestra and staff list; lightly folded and written title on cover, else VG] £3

1976 (Sep): SANDRINA'S SECRET (La Finta Giardiniera) - Mozart (Sadler's Wells)
English Music Theatre: Meryl Drower, Stuart Harling, Nan Christie, Francis Egerton, Bernard Dickerson/Neil Jenkins, Janet Gail, Ann Murray/Susan Daniel; c:Steuart Bedford, dir:Colin Graham+Graham Vick [26pp; cast, synopsis, notes, orchestra and staff list; much rumpled, else VG] £2

1979 (Oct): AN ACTOR'S REVENGE - Miki, and LA FINTA GIARDINIERA - Mozart (Old Vic)
English Music Theatre: REVENGE: Kenneth Bowen, Stephen Jefferies, Marie Slorach, Tom McDonnell, Richard Suart; c:Steuart Bedford, dir:Colin Graham; FINTA: Laureen Livingstone, Nan Christie, Peter Savidge, John Fryatt, Bernard Dickerson, Penelope Mackay; c:Steuart Bedford, dir:Tom Hawkes [28pp; casts, synopses, notes, biographies, 6 production photos, orchestra and staff list; VG] (£4) SOLD