The Spirit of the Empire

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

[...] Didactic little war play inculcating rather crudely but with some vigour the duty of patriotism [...]

Researcher's Summary:

On the licensed copy the author, Alfred Denville, calls himself 'a patriot'. The work was advertised to theatres as being 'under the patronage of the naval and military authorities'. It included a tableau of the Angels of Mons, and scenes showing the interior of munition works, No Man's Land, Potsdam, Captain Fryatt, Jack Cornwall and Edith Cavell (see The Era, 24 January 1917).

Licensed On: 10 Jan 1917

License Number: 738

British Library Reference: LCP1917/1

British Library Classmark: Add MS 66156 W

Performances

Date	Theatre	Type
N/A	Theatre Royal, Bolton	Unknown	Licensed Performance
5 Mar 1917	Palace Theatre, Gloucester	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for this week. Performers were: Isa Steele (actress), Charles Carter (actor), Will Gardiner (actor), Horace Whitwell (actor), Alec Gillette (actor), George Steele (actor)
12 Mar 1917	Gillsmith's Hippodrome, Cheltenham	Professional	Read Narrative Performed here for one week by cast including: Dolly Douglas (actress), Alex Gillette (actor), Issa Steele (actress)
19 Mar 1917	Theatre Royal, Smethwick	Professional	Read Narrative Performed here for one week.
26 Mar 1917	Theatre Royal, Aston Cross	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
2 Apr 1917	Theatre Royal, Chatham	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
9 Apr 1917	Elephant and Castle Theatre, London	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
16 Apr 1917	Hippodrome, Woolwich	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for the week.
23 Apr 1917	Hippodrome, Birkenhead	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
30 Apr 1917	Hippodrome, Chesterfield	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
7 May 1917	Theatre Royal, Oldham	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
21 May 1917	Hippodrome, Wigan	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week. Described as 'The most novel patriotic play in the world' (Wigan Observer, 22 May 1917)
25 Jun 1917	Hippodrome, Salford	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week. Described as having 'Strong patriotic appeal and shows many war incidents' (Manchester Evening News, 26 June 1917).
16 Jul 1917	Public Hall, Runcorn	Professional	Read Narrative 'Under the Patronage of the Naval and Military Authorities. Nothing like this ever been seen in Runcorn and District before.' (Nantwich Guardian, 13 July 1917)
30 Jul 1917	Prince's Theatre, Bradford	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
13 Aug 1917	Theatre Royal, Sheffield	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
27 Aug 1917	Empire, Garston	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
3 Sep 1917	Hippodrome, Bilston	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
17 Sep 1917	King's Theatre, Oswestry	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
8 Oct 1917	Hippodrome, Cannock	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
15 Oct 1917	Public Hall, Runcorn	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
29 Oct 1917	Grand Theatre, Nottingham	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week. Cast including: Charles Carter (actor) and Isa Steele (actress)
12 Nov 1917	Metropole Theatre, Bootle	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
19 Nov 1917	King's Theatre, Sunderland	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week. A review noted: 'It deals with incidents of the war, presenting them in 'arguments' (11 in number) in three scenes. It is apparently the story of the Empire's awakening' (Sunderland Daily Echo, 17 November 1917).
26 Nov 1917	Palace Theatre, Gloucester	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
3 Dec 1917	Theatre Royal, Leeds	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.
24 Dec 1917	Theatre Royal, Coatbridge	Professional	Read Narrative Performed for one week.

The Spirit of the Empire

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Performances