Theatre Programme Collections
The Archives and Special Collections hold two collections of theatre programmes. These are:
Cary Ellison Theatre Programme Collection
Cary Ellison began his career as an actor in 1939, spending many years touring in theatrical productions. On one such tour he met actress Olive Milbourne, whom he married in 1944. Eventually Ellison moved on from acting and joined casting directory Spotlight in 1953.
As part of his work Ellison would tour repertory theatre companies twice a year, making notes on each play including notes on the cast, director, to help match the actors with suitable parts, and to identify future stars. His influence was not confined to Spotlight, as he also held an advisory service for performers looking to improve their careers, and founded ‘12’, an association for those interested in supporting the future of the acting industry. He retired from Spotlight in 1980, but continued to advise potential new actors at Guildford School of Drama. He died in 2002.
The Cary Ellison Theatre Programme Collection consists of the theatre programmes he collected on his tours of repertory theatres from 1953 to 1980 with his notes on the cast and plays. The programmes are organised in a number of files grouped by year and the notes they contain are very detailed and in some cases run to great length. The collection provides a history of British repertory theatre for the latter part of the twentieth century, as well as providing a glimpse into the early careers of some well known stars.
Brian Smith Theatre Programme Collection
Brian Smith was born in Australia in 1930. He was an extremely successful scholar and became a teacher, working in various schools in Australia before deciding to leave for Britain in 1956. In 1960 he became Head of Maths at Hammersmith and West London College where he worked until his retirement.
Outside work Brian travelled extensively in Europe and America. He was also extremely passionate about the arts in all its forms: cinema, literature, music, theatre and ballet. In his early days as a teacher he supplemented his income by working as a dresser in London’s West End. Throughout his life he continued to visit the theatre regularly to see plays and concerts.
The Brian Smith Theatre Programme Collection contains all of the theatre programmes that Brian Smith collected through his many years of visiting the theatre. A number of programmes for first runs of significant plays are included, and he saw a great many productions by the Royal Shakespeare Company. There are also programmes for operas and classical music concerts. The collection forms a great resource on London theatre in the late 20th Century.