Database Update 1

I've been working on completing my Bensonian database and thought this morning I might print it out so I had a paper copy.  So far the Basic Edition (dates and venues only) runs to 62 pages of printing...! It's a book in itself!!!

Edinburgh February 1893

Benson made many visits during his career to Edinburgh, often for two week seasons, and always performed at the Royal Lyceum Theatre.  Like the Waterford Theatre, the Edinburgh  Royal Lyceum (named after Irving’s Theatre in London) is still operating as a theatre today, now with its own resident theatre company.  Benson first visited the Lyceum in 1888, five years after it had opened.  Yet another auditorium designed by the prolific C.J Phipps, the theatre reputedly cost £17, 000 to build.  

On February 15th 1893, Benson presented a week of plays including Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night,  Richard III and Hamlet as well as ‘Old English’ comedies, The Rivals and School for Scandal.  The following week was a full week of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  Benson had originally produced his ‘Grand Production’ of the Dream in 1889 for a six week season at the Globe Theatre where it had been very favourably reviewed by the national press.  The Pall Mall Gazette, in particular, praised Benson’s ambitious intentions: ‘There has been no ‘scamping’ behind the scenes at the Globe – no half measures in the matter of mounting.  On the contrary, the play has been put upon the stage with as much care as if it were intended run for a year.’  

Benson would go on to use the fact that this was a London production in much of his publicity for the play and would recruit local ‘elves and sprites’ from each town the production visited to be trained up for the performance.    Benson’s production obviously proved popular in Edinburgh, returning the following year for a further week’s performances.

Waterford, 1895

Given that so many of the theatres the Benson Companies visited became victims to fire, war, or the inner city developer, it is always wonderful to find a survivor!

The Theatre Royal Waterford is very much alive and well, and still operating as a theatre. What makes this even better is the fact that the theatre is such an old one: performances began there in 1787.  Benson's company made their first visit to Waterford in 1895.

According to its fascinating website, the Theatre Royal is 'the premiere venue in the South East of Ireland, plays host to the best national and international touring artists and companies and with the assistance of Waterford City Council and TheArts Council is increasingly seeking to mount its own productions for the people of the city and the region.'  It's a small venue, nowadays seating 430 patrons on three levels (although it would probably have held more in 1895!).

And what a stunning auditorium! Another one of C.J. Phipps's make-overs, it was recently refurbished  and given  a £4million face-lift. The auditorium is an elegant Georgian space, with horseshoe shaped balconies and a high proscenium.


I haven't been able find any period photographs of the theatre itself, which  includes an Assembly Rooms and the Corporation's Art Gallery. However, the postcards reproduced below were taken around 1900 and give something of the flavour of the city at the time, which, according to the  National Archives had an expanding population at this time.
  
According to the records I have, the Bensonians only visited seven times, all around the end of December or into January.  I've yet to unearth any repertory records for any of these engagements.  

I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't even really know where Waterford was until I started this project.  It's now on my 'bucket list' of theatres to visit!