THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Homes & Antiques|December 2024
Victorian toy theatres charming and exquisitely designed miniature worlds have inspired theatre royalty for decades. Today, the tradition is being kept alive by a small but talented network of makers
RHIANNON BATTEN
THE SHOW MUST GO ON

The lights dim, chatter fizzles out and all eyes turn to the soft, square glow in front of us. The box it’s coming from is the size of a vintage TV, but it’s not a screen we’re looking at. It’s a toy theatre, displaying a miniature version of Jack and the Beanstalk, adapted and performed by aficionado Sarah Peasgood. The theatre’s paper figures, jewel-coloured proscenium and enchanted florets are so exquisitely rendered and manipulated that, for the next 20 minutes, the audience is spellbound. If the spectacle is gripping, however, the tale of these tiny stages is a fascinating story in its own right.

British toy theatres (also known as paper theatres or juvenile drama) date from 1811, when apprentice printer John Kilby Green was commissioned to produce sheets of theatrical characters by London publisher William West. At the time, theatre was the principal entertainment and, spotting an opportunity, Green suggested printing characters from popular pantomimes and melodramas onto sheets of paper. Primarily this was for children to cut out, mount on card and play with, but adults also collected them as souvenirs of their favourite shows. The first one, Mother Goose, sold thousands and West took the idea and ran with it, becoming, effectively, the founder of English toy theatre.

‘If there was a new play on at one of the London theatres and everybody was talking about it, the publishers would send an artist to the theatre to sketch the costumes, actors and scenery, and then turn those sketches into printed images to sell in their shops,’ explains historian and toy theatre expert Alan Powers. ‘You could buy the set, and a script, and do your own show at home.’ Available as either ‘penny plain’ or ‘tuppence coloured’, the cheaper black-and-white versions extended the DIY component, offering the opportunity for colouring in and, perhaps, tinselling with foil.

Esta historia es de la edición December 2024 de Homes & Antiques.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición December 2024 de Homes & Antiques.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE HOMES & ANTIQUESVer todo
Lisa Coppin
Homes & Antiques

Lisa Coppin

The Cotswold Company’s chief creative officer shares the pieces that mean so much to her

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 2024
TRAVEL
Homes & Antiques

TRAVEL

Six of the best pineta, plus a festive trip to Covent Garden. Review of The Orange, Belgravia by Katie Pike, travel stories

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 2024
OLD SHEFFIELD PLATE
Homes & Antiques

OLD SHEFFIELD PLATE

Stumbled upon by chance, this ingenious material was a more affordable option than solid silver, and well-preserved examples are particularly desirable today

time-read
3 minutos  |
December 2024
Merrily on high
Homes & Antiques

Merrily on high

Summoning servants since the 1700s, bell boards create instant English country-house style (even if you don't have any servants). Emma Longstaff dons her pinny

time-read
3 minutos  |
December 2024
Let it snow
Homes & Antiques

Let it snow

Nostalgic, magical and highly collectable, snow globes are curious objects of wonder that never fail to instil joy

time-read
7 minutos  |
December 2024
Velvet Crush
Homes & Antiques

Velvet Crush

Once the preserve of the wealthy, velvet finally touched all levels of society, thanks to advances in its production process

time-read
3 minutos  |
December 2024
Celebrating in the Stable
Homes & Antiques

Celebrating in the Stable

Antiques dealer Julia von Hülsen specialises in Gustavian pieces - all of which look perfectly placed in her German home

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 2024
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Homes & Antiques

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

Victorian toy theatres charming and exquisitely designed miniature worlds have inspired theatre royalty for decades. Today, the tradition is being kept alive by a small but talented network of makers

time-read
6 minutos  |
December 2024
NICHOLAS LEES
Homes & Antiques

NICHOLAS LEES

The ceramic artist talks to Dominique Corlett about new ways of working with clay and blurring the edges of solid objects

time-read
4 minutos  |
December 2024
Candy CHRISTMAS
Homes & Antiques

Candy CHRISTMAS

Pastel hues, vintage decorations and bowls of sweet treats: the festive run-up is gloriously joyful at Bettina Færgeman's historic Copenhagen apartment, where there's an emphasis on entertaining...

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 2024