The
History of the Theatre Poster
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After theatre started again at the Restoration in
1662, the practice of hoisting a flag at theatres
to announce plays resumed, as did the distribution
and posting of hand-written playbills, especially
in the countryside. Small, printed playbills,
giving brief details of the play, its title,
date and starting time, were produced on hand-made
rag paper, by the printing process called letterpress.
Larger posters were influenced by those of a French theatre company
who visited London in 1672, printed not only in black, but more expensive
red ink. By the end of the century, London theatres produced similar
posters or 'Great Bills', as well as the smaller ones, despite their
extra cost. Gradually more information about the performances appeared
on both sizes of poster, and the smaller ones were distributed in the
streets and delivered to the homes of regular playgoers. Actors’ names
began to appear, and some complained if their names didn't feature in
large enough letters.
Barnes and Finley's Booth at Smithfield Fair
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'Rope dancing' and tumbling were major attractions at the beginning of the 18th century. Small 'play booths' which were little performance spaces were set up in the fairs. The pictures on this playbill appealed to those visitors who couldn't read, and for those who could, the poster promised 'the most famous rope dancers in Europe'. Mr Barnes himself was the main attraction, who danced 'with a child standing upright on his shoulders, with two children at his feet with boots and spurs'. Also promised is a performance by Lady Mary Finley who 'would dance capers above six feet high'. Lady Mary was alleged to be the daughter of Florentine aristocrats who had sent her to live in a nunnery. She escaped and ran away with Mr Finley whom she married and became a ropewalker. The end of her story is less romantic. Her husband bullied her into performing when heavily pregnant and she fell, killing both herself and the child. Created: 1701 This object features in the
Circus
Guided Tour
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