Great War Theatre

Performances at this Theatre

Date Script Type
N/A On Appro Unknown
N/A Line Up Here Unknown
N/A The Guns Of Victory! Unknown
30 Nov 1914 The Knighthood of Posner Unknown
30 Nov 1914 The Supreme Sacrifice Unknown
30 Nov 1914 The Supreme Sacrifice Professional
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‘On Monday at the Camberwell Empire Miss Sylvia Cavalho and Mr. Clifford Pembroke produced a new dramatic sketch, entitled The Supreme Sacrifice – England’s Call, written by William Moore, an Australian author’ (The Stage, 3 December 1914). ‘“The Supreme Sacrifice” shows in strong and pathetic fashion the sacrifices our women have made in the Great Cause. The piece is capitally acted by Miss Sylvia Cavalho and company’ (The Referee, 6 December 1914). The Era, 9 December 1914, reviewed ‘The Supreme Sacrifice’, a ‘Dramatic Sketch, by William Moore, Produced at the Camberwell Empire on Monday, Nov. 30’ .The cast was: Jack, Clifford Pembroke; Charlie, Frank Brunell; Mary, Sylvia Cavalho. The review continued: ‘Jack, “the hero” of this dramatic sketch, which contains many good lines, we learn at the opening is manager at Hanwell and Co.’s, and has just been offered a partnership in the firm, which, owing to Army contracts, is in a prosperous condition. His natural jubilation is shared his wife, and they are both rejoicing at their good fortune when a friend, Charlie, who has joined the Army, calls and tells Jack how much men are wanted and also how willingly his mother has let him go. When Charlie has departed, the wife, in a rather over-dramatic scene, insists on Jack giving up the partnership and enlisting, and, after some hesitation, the husband makes “The Supreme Sacrifice,” and upon Jack’s return both go off, leaving the wife sobbing. Mr. Clifford Pembroke as Jack gave an impressive impersonation, and Miss Sylvia Cavalho as Mary, his wife, was also good, but was at times inclined to over-act. Mr. Frank Brunell as Charlie lent to the part a vein of humour. The scenery and appointments alike were excellent’.
7 Dec 1914 A Beauty Doctor Unknown
4 Jan 1915 A Dead Cert Unknown
18 Jan 1915 Tuning a Piano Unknown
1 Mar 1915 War, Wine, and a Woman Unknown
1 Mar 1915 War, Wine, and a Woman Professional
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‘“War, Wine and a Woman”. Dramatic Episode, by Victor Grayson, Produced at the Camberwell Empire on Monday March 1. Colonel Emden … Mr. Cecil Belcher Lieut. Danziger … Mr. Sydney Bland Lieut. Blake … Mr. Louis Sealy Winnie Alsop … Miss Ruth Norreys The scene of “War, Wine and a Woman” is laid in the officers’ quarters behind the German trenches. An English lady prisoner, Winnie Alsop, of the British Intelligence Department, is brought in. Pretending to be a Cockney, she wheedles round the German officer, who writes her a pardon. Having a knowledge of the German language, Winnie discovers that this is not really a pardon, and after plying the German with champagne he falls asleep. The girl then steals some despatches and the English arrive under Lieut. Blake. Winnie revealing her identity, it transpires that she is Lieut. Blake’s fiancée. Miss Ruth Norreys gave an excellent impersonation of Winnie Alsop, her character study as a Cockney being especially good. Colonel Emden was well played by Mr. Cecil Belcher, whilst Mr. Sydney Bland as Lieut. Danziger and Mr. Louis Sealy as Lieut. Blake also did praiseworthy work’. The Era, 3 March 1915.
5 Apr 1915 A Jew's Judgment Unknown
19 Apr 1915 Cod Unknown
12 Jun 1915 Get over There or Quick March Unknown
2 Aug 1915 Got 'em Unknown
16 Aug 1915 Don't Be Silly Unknown
23 Aug 1915 The Glorious Day Professional
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Performed as 'Don't be Silly'. 'This revue having undergone many changes, all of which are dundoubtedly for the best, now makes a bid for futther honours under the above title' (Stage, 26 August 1915). Changes included a reduction from 13 to 10 tableaux. The 'pastoral scene' in Devon was removed and new scenes showing 'Big Lizzie in Action' and a 'Carnival of Peace' were added. The performance was well received but the Stage recommended a change of title.
30 Aug 1915 Nahana Unknown
30 Aug 1915 Babyland Unknown
11 Oct 1915 The Man Who Came Back Unknown
28 Feb 1916 A Dark Page Unknown
27 Mar 1916 Sword or Surplice, Or A Man of Peace Professional
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The Stage, 30 March 1916, reviewed the one-scene musical comedy farce 'Rosebuds' at the Camberwell Empire and concluded: 'Another play here, of a different type, is Matthew Bolton's [sic] drama, "Sword or Surplice," in which Mr. Boulton still gives his carefully studied reading of the clergyman. It is a capital play, well acted'. Rathmell Wilson inserted an advertisement in the same issue of the Stage in which he said that that week he was playing the Gardener in Sword or Surplice at the Camberwell Empire.
27 Mar 1916 The House Opposite Unknown
8 May 1916 The Wages Of Hell (After The War) Professional
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The play was staged here until 20 May (The Era, 17 May 1916). The cast was: John Lawson (actor), Lucille Sidney (actress), Adèle Lawson (actress), Charles Vane (actor), Miss Pearson (actress), Mr. Frank Seddon (actor). The remainder of the bill consisted of Brodo and Anitra, vocalists; Millie Gold, the popular male impersonator; and Miss Georgina Berry. The Era (10 May 1916) wrote the following: 'Christianity is undergoing the severest test of its existence. The war has produced a difference of opinion between clergymen upon the subject of loving our enemies as interesting in its variation as the doctors’ treatment of indigestion. One day a prominent Eton divine exhorts the populace not to humiliate Germany - when hundreds of Eton’s own have suffered the horrors of the Hun. A day later another Church celebrity declares that it is our business to exterminate the enemy. Now we have the Rev. A. J. Waldron, a clergyman beloved by his congregation for his broadmindedness, as the author of 'The Wages of Hell', a dramatic playlet anticipating the feeling of the people, particularly of the Jews, towards the vanquished foe 17 years hence. As the hero of a sketch Mr. John Lawson has preached many a sensible sermon from the stage. He has had few more effective to deliver than that which the late Vicar of Brixton has written for him. The German must never be forgiven; the barbarity of his warfare never forgotten. [...] Mr. Lawson rams home the author’s main arguments with splendid emphasis, and relieves the dramatic moments with unexpected touches of light comedy. Miss Lucille Sidney’s portrayal of the mother overwhelmed with lasting shame is perfect, and cleverly contrasted with the character of the schoolgirl in the prologue. The daughter is delightfully played by Miss Adèle Lawson. Mr. Charles Vane handles the unsympathetic rôle of the Boche with commendable skill; the remaining characters of the Nun and a butler being suitably represented by Miss Pearson and Mr. Frank Seddon'. The Stage (11 May 1916) also reviewed the sketch: 'The Rev. A. J. Waldron, of Brixton, has written a tense and gripping little drama in The Wages of Hell, although it is, perhaps, not so entirely original in theme as some could wish. Indeed, more than one play touching upon or approaching a similar theme can be recalled during its action, and the experienced playgoer – not necessarily, perhaps, a person to be specially considered in the variety theatre – is able to anticipate the story pretty accurately by a mere glance at programme particulars. But these, after all, are but minor defects in an engrossing playlet, as is also a certain easily-remedied patchiness of dialogue which at present rather suggests eleventh hour alteration and revision. The story, which may soon be told, is one of German brutality and its consequences, and its obvious moral is all self-respecting people must treat the unspeakable Boche as a social pariah for many years after the present upheaval. The prologue, which is short and commendably reticent, tells how a girl in a school in Louvain is outraged by a drunken German officer; in the play proper, seventeen years afterwards, the outraged woman learns with horror that the young man who wishes to marry her (brutally begotten) daughter is the actual son of her German betrayer. She and the last-named scoundrel eventually meet face to face – he is posing as a Dutchman named Van Ralte – and, the woman being unable to take her own just revenge, the German brute is promptly killed by her brother. John Lawson, in a part not usually associated with his style, plays well as the avenging brother, and Adele Lawson, Lucille Sidney, and Charles Vane, are seen to great advantage in the remaining principal parts, the last-named gentleman being particularly clever in his assumptions, first as the drunken officer, and afterwards as the pseudo Dutch Boche. The Wages of Hell is being enthusiastically received by large audiences at Camberwell, and should repeat its success upon many occasions in spite of the fact that War plays are not generally popular. It is bad Christianity, but good drama'.
5 Jun 1916 All Sir Garnet Unknown
5 Jun 1916 The Wily Widow Unknown
5 Jun 1916 A Little Plot Unknown
3 Jul 1916 Hullo, Peace Unknown
2 Oct 1916 Paris to Maidenhead Unknown
23 Oct 1916 There Was A King In Flanders Professional
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Performed by Oswald Waller and Gloria Laurence. On the same bill were: Eileen (toe dancer), Ernest Ludlow and Millie Chase (vocalists), Jessie Allan (soprano), Three Dancing Wilburrs, Fred Keeton (comedian), Wallace and Ross (comedy duo), Lily Hartley (singer). The Era reported on 1 November 1916 that 'Nothing finer has been seen here in the way of dramatic acting than Mr Oswald Waller's portrayal of the Belgian soldier, and Miss Gloria Lawrence (sic) acts beautifully as the nurse'.
15 Jan 1917 Father and Son Alike Unknown
29 Jan 1917 The Man Who Stayed At Home Professional
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'The [Taylor Platt] Red Company opens its spring tour at the Empire, Camberwell, on Jan. 29’ (The Era, 10 January 1917). The Era, 24 and 31 January 1917, listed The Man Who Stayed at Home (Red Company) as On The Road from 29 January at the Empire, Camberwell. Also The Stage, 25 January 1917.
11 Feb 1918 The Man Who Stayed At Home Professional
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‘E. Taylor Platt Co. in “The Man Who Stayed at Home”‘ was advertised in The Era, 6 February 1918, at the Camberwell Empire for the week commencing Monday 11 February.
16 Sep 1929 Parker’s Appeal Professional
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The Era, 18 September 1929, listed The Adventures of Parker, P.C. as On The Road from 16 September at the Empire, Camberwell.