Olivia, written by William Gorman Wills (1828-1891), and performed at Royal Court Theatre, London, on 30th March 1878.

    A scene from Olivia, written by the Irish dramatist William Gorman Wills (1828–1891), and performed at the Royal Court Theatre, London, on 30th March 1878. 

   Cast members: Mary Frances Hughes, Mrs Gaston Murray (d.1891), Mrs L Neville as Dick, Mrs Kate Meville as Bill, Norman Forbes as Moies, Kate Aubrey as Sophia, Frank Archer as Mr Burchall and Hermann Vezin (1829 - 1910) as Dr Primrose.

Norman Forbes-Robertson (1858–1932), actor and art dealer. He is about 20 years old in this picture.

Ellen Terry (1847-1928) in the title role of "Olivia" at the Royal Court Theatre, 1878. 

Faust (1806, 1831) written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and produced in Germany under the direction of Otto Devrient in 1878

A scene from Faust (1806, 1831) written by the German authour Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832) and produced in Germany under the direction of Otto Devrient (1838 - 1894) in 1878.

More Information about the director

Diplomacy (an 1878 English play which is a translation and adaptation by B. C. Stephenson and Clement Scott of the 1877 French play Dora by Victorien Sardou (1831 – 1908), produced at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, on 12 January 1878.

   Scenes from  Diplomacy (an 1878 English play which is a translation and adaptation by B. C. Stephenson and Clement Scott of the 1877 French play Dora by Victorien Sardou (1831 – 1908), produced at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, on 12 January 1878.

   From 12 January 1878 to 10 January 1879 it ran on a single bill and long held a record as the only English theatre production to stay unchanged for a year. A revival opening on 8 November 1884 by the Bancrofts at The Haymarket ran for another 117 performances. Later English revivals occurred in 1893 at the Garrick, in 1913 (featuring Owen Nares and Gladys Cooper) at Wyndham's.

Madge Kendal as Dora; William Hunter Kendal (William Hunter Grimston) as Captain Beauclerc in 'Diplomacy' 1878

Marie Wilton as Countess Zicka in Diplomacy at the Prince of Wales Theatre.

Original London cast (1878)

John Clayton as Henry Beauclerc

William Hunter Kendal as Julian Beauclerc

Arthur Cecil as Baron Stein

Squire Bancroft as Count Orloff

Mr. Dean as Antoine

Madge Kendal as Dora

Effie Bancroft as Countess Zika

Roma Le Thiere as Marquise

Peer Gynt written by Henrik Ibsen and premiered at the Christiania Theatre, Oslo, with Henrik Klausen as Peer, on February 24, 1876

Scenes from Peer Gynt (originally a poem but Ibsen later adapted it to be a stage play) written by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1823 - 1906) and first performed at the Christiania Theatre, Oslo, with Henrik Klausen as Peer, on February 24, 1876, with the the original music for the stage composed by Edvard Grieg (Norwegian music composer, 1843 - 1907).

Actors Sofie Parelius and Henrik Klausen in Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen. From the first performance at Christiania Theater 1876.

Henrik Klausen as Peer Gynt and Sofie Parelius as his mother Aase.

Actor Henrik Klausen as "Peer Gynt"

Henrik Klausen and Oda Nielsen in Peer Gynt

Photographs of Ellen Terry as Portia in The Merchant of Venice, produced by C. J. James, at the Prince of Wales's Royal Theatre, from April 17, 1875.

Photographs of Ellen Terry as Portia in The Merchant of Venice, produced by C. J. James with the stage manager Mr. Coglan and the scene designer Gordon and Harford, at the Prince of Wales's Royal Theatre, from April 17, 1875. 

Ellen Terry performing as Portia in The Merchant of Venice

In 1875, Terry was engaged at the Prince of Wales's Theatre managed by Wilton and her husband Squire Bancroft. In her first role there Terry gave an acclaimed performance as Portia in The Merchant of Venice. Godwin was in charge of the artistic designs, including Terry's costumes; even after the two separated in 1875, he continued to design Terry's costumes. 

Portrait of Sir Henry Irving (Actor-manager, 1838-1905) as Hamlet, drawn by Harry Furniss (Artist, 1854-1925) with pen and ink in 1874.

A portrait of Sir Henry Irving (Actor-manager, 1838-1905) as Hamlet, drawn by Harry Furniss (Artist, 1854-1925) with pen and ink in 1874.

Mr Henry Irving as Hamlet, at the Lyceum Theatre

The Illustrated London News, 14 November 1874.

Antony and Cleopatra written by William Shakespeare and produced at the Drury Lane Theatre, London, in 1873, starring Ellen Wallis, James Anderson

A scene from Antony and Cleopatra written by the English playwright William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) and produced at the Drury Lane Theatre, London, in 1873, starring Ellen Wallis, James Anderson (Scottish stage actor and dramatist, 1811 - 1895).