Great War Theatre

Address: Chesterfield, UK

Performances at this Theatre

Date Script Type
30 Nov 1914 Something Doing Unknown
25 Jan 1915 The Coward Professional
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Advertised in the Derbyshire Courier, 23 January 1915: performing Under Suspicion and Naturalized.
31 Jul 1916 Stop Press Professional
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The Derbyshire Courier, 29 July 1916, advertised ‘Magini and Company present their Latest London Successful Revue Stop-Press. Written by James and Robert Hargreaves. Music by Magini. Including the following well-known artistes:- Kitty Major and Tom Major, Betty Kitts, George Brooks, Margot Myne, George Lawrence and Jack Cranston. Verdun Troupe of Dancers. London Beauty Chorus’.
20 Nov 1916 The Mystery Gun Professional
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Twice nightly 7pm and 9pm
23 Dec 1916 Dick Whittington Unknown
30 Apr 1917 The Spirit of the Empire Professional
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Performed for one week.
4 Feb 1918 The Love Child Professional
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The Derbyshire Courier, 2 February 1918, advertised at the Hippodrome, Chesterfield from Monday 4 February the ‘Important Engagement of Mr. Ernest R. Abbott’s old-established Company’ giving ‘Two Splendid Attractions’: on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday six performances of ‘an Entirely New and Original Drama’ Neither Wife Nor Maid’; and on Wednesday-Friday six performances of Sapho.
6 May 1918 The Light that Leads Me Home Professional
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Performed Mon, Fri, Sat only with 'Tainted Goods' (probably 'Tainted Humanity') and 'Ghosts' on the other nights. Performed by Miss L Bateman and London company.
9 May 1918 Tainted Goods Unknown
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The Derbyshire Courier of Saturday May 4th 1918 advertises two performances of the play on the following Wednesday and Thursday (British Newspaper Archive) 'The Most Talked Of Play of the Present Day'
2 Sep 1918 Back From Overseas Professional
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It is The Broken Trail that is listed as on tour at the H., Chesterfield from 2 September in the Stage, 5 September 1918. Advertisement for ‘The Maud Warburton – Wilson Howard Attractions’, namely Back From Overseas and The Broken Trail, both by Wilson Howard. On the former: ‘A spy play – with a difference. This show is an unqualified success, and is fast booking. Big Week again at Hippodrome, Chesterfield, last week'. The Stage, 12 September 1918.
16 Sep 1918 The Girl Who Changed Her Mind Professional
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Advertised in the Derbyshire Courier, 14 September 1918, for twice nightly on Monday 16 September and during the week: ‘Will H. Glaze and Wilson Benge’s No. 1 Co. Present Their Latest and Greatest Play – The Girl Who Changed Her Mind’.
16 Dec 1918 The Black Sheep Of The Family Professional
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The Derbyshire Courier, 14 December 1918, advertised at the Hippodrome, Chesterfield, on Monday 16 December and during the week, ‘Arthur Hinton presents “The Black Sheep of the Family”, naming cast members Arthur Hinton as Ralph Sylvester and Ethel Monton as Lady Blanche [Maitland]. On Friday night only A Man’s Best Pal would be played.
24 Feb 1919 Married on Leave Professional
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The Stage of Thursday 20 and 27 February 1919 listed “Married on Leave” as on tour at the H., Chesterfield from 24 February.
24 Mar 1919 Married on Leave Professional
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The Derbyshire Courier of Saturday 22 March 1919 carried an advertisement for ‘the play of the moment’ “Married on Leave” at the Hippodrome, Chesterfield the following week, twice nightly with no mention of matinées. BUT The Stage of Thursday 20 March 1919 listed “Married on Leave” as on tour at the ‘G., Houghton’ [that is, the Gaiety Theatre, Houghton-le-Spring, Co. Durham] from 24 March.
21 Apr 1919 Settling Day Professional
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Performed by Cora Duncan & Albert Brasque. Other acts on the same bill: Miss Sara Williams, J.S.Fisher's 6 Mermaids (vocalists and dancers), Bros. Morris (comedians), Fred Shuff (comedians), Ninette (pictorial poseuse).
23 Jun 1919 Love And The Law Professional
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The Derbyshire Courier, 21 June 1919, advertised at the Hippodrome, Chesterfield, ‘Next Week Twice Nightly The Stanley Carlton Co. Present the Novel and Original Drama, “Love and The Law”’. Noted in The Era, 25 June 1919.
26 Jul 1920 The Unmarried Mother Professional
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The Stage, 29 July 1920, listed The Unmarried Mother as On Tour from 26 July at the H., Chesterfield.
7 Jul 1924 Seven Days Leave Professional
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Performed for the week twice nightly at 6.50 and 8.50 by the Denville Stock Company.
6 Oct 1924 The Black Sheep Of The Family Professional
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The Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 27 September 1924, advertised ‘The famous Denville Stock Company’ in The Black Sheep of the Family at the Hippodrome, Chesterfield, in the week beginning 6 October. The author of the play is not named, so there is no certainty that it was Gladys Hastings Walton, but no other play with the same title was licensed by the Lord Chamberlain’s Office. However, the Denville Stock Company / Denville Players did perform Gladys Hastings Walton’s play at the Victoria Opera House, Burnley, 15-20 May 1922; the Hippodrome, Burslem, 26 June – 1 July 1922; the Hippodrome, Wallasey, 10-15 July 1922; the Hippodrome, Margate, 8-13 February 1926; and the Theatre Royal, Barry, 22-27 March 1926.
8 Jun 1936 The Black Sheep Of The Family Professional
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The Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 5 June 1936, advertised ‘Fortescue’s Famous Players’ in The Black Sheep of the Family (‘A show you will remember’) on Monday-Wednesday of the following week at the Hippodrome, Chesterfield. ‘The two plays to be presented at Chesterfield Hippodrome by Fortescue’s Players next week are “The Black Sheep of the Family,” which is to be given on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and “Tainted Lives,” which is be given from Thursday. This latter is not for children’ (Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 5 June 1936). The author of the play is not named, so there is no certainty that it was Gladys Hastings Walton, but no other play with the same title was licensed by the Lord Chamberlain’s Office.
22 Jun 1939 The Love Child Professional
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The Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 16 June 1939, advertised at the Hippodrome, Chesterfield for the week commencing Monday 19 June ‘Frank H. Fortescue’s Famous Players’ in A Blind Girl’s Rosary on Monday-Wednesday and Neither Wife Nor Maid by Ada Abbott on Thursday-Saturday. ‘Frank H. Fortescue’s Players began their fifth week at the Chesterfield Hippodrome yesterday with Gertrude Vickers’ powerful play, “A Blind Girl’s Rosary,” and from Thursday they will present Ada Abbot’s much-discussed play, “Neither Wife Nor Maid.” The Fortescue Players have made many new friends during their stay in Chesterfield, and their show this week is well up to their customary high standard’ (Sheffield Evening Telegraph, 20 June 1939).