Unrecorded Silk Theatre Playbill Printed in 1844 at Secunderabad (India) by J Torrick for the 9th, 26th and 38th Madras Infantry "Gentleman Amateurs" for their performances at the Cantonment Theatre

Silk Theatre Playbill Printed in 1844 at Secunderabad (India) by J Torrick for the 9th, 26th and 38th Madras Infantry "Gentleman Amateurs" for their performances at the Cantonment Theatre.

"Cantonment theatre, Secunderabad."

"The Gentleman Amateurs. Under entire new management, This Theatre will open on Monday, the 22nd, and Wednesday, the 24th of January, 1844, with a Comedy in 2 Acts, with new Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations; entitled "The Youthful queen;" or, "Christine of Sweden!"..."To conclude with the Laughable Farce, in One Act, entitled "A Day after the Fair.".

Printed by J Torrick in Secunderabad in 1844.

23 x 35cm laid down on modern mount. Old centre fold. Otherwise near fine.

The bill announces a two-act comedy entitled The Youthful Queen; or, Christine of Sweden, followed by the farce A Day After the Fair, with tickets priced at 2 Rupees 8 Annas and proceeds handled through the Club Butler.

At the date of printing (January 1844), Secunderabad served as the principal cantonment of the Hyderabad Subsidiary Force under the Madras Presidency Army. The East India [Company] Register and Army Lists for 1843–44 confirm the presence of the 9th 26th and 38th Madras Infantry in Secunderabad at the time.

The officers named in the playbill correspond closely with those stationed in these regiments at Secunderabad at the time. From examining the lists, the most probable identifications include:

Lieutenant Charles Winn Huet, 38th Madras Native Infantry — listed as Manager of the Theatre and performer in multiple roles.

Captain John Thomas Ashton, 26th Madras Native Infantry — cast prominently in the farce.

Lieutenant M. Brady Ward, 26th Madras Native Infantry.

Lieutenant John Wilson, 26th Madras Native Infantry.

Lieutenant G. F. Shakespear (26th) OR Lieutenant C. M. Shakespear (9th), both stationed in Secunderabad in 1844.

The Youthful Queen; or, Christine of Sweden dramatised the life of Queen Christina of Sweden. The play dealt with themes including female sovereignty, abdication, and intellectual independence. The concluding farce, A Day After the Fair, provided comic relief, with Captain Ashton reportedly undertaking multiple exaggerated character roles. Play performances formed an important element of British cantonment culture in India. As there were no women in military bases, men often played multiple women’s parts - as can be seen by Lieutenant Huet’s multiple roles in this playbill for the Day After the Fair.

Silk theatre programmes were produced for commemorative or prestige occasions and were often lost through time. Printed locally in Secunderabad by J. Torrick, the survival of a local Indian printed silk playbill is uncommon. 

Not on OCLC - apparently unrecorded. One other imprint by Torrick is recorded on OCLC (1125865845) - a later 1848 Silk imprint for the "Theatre Royal" in Secunderabad.