Historical Theatre Programmes and Publications - Frankston

Theatre programmes are considered valuable documents as they can provide insight into the history of theatre and performance.  They can also provide a broader cultural context of the society and its relationship with the theatre.

The earliest Australian playbill was printed in Sydney to promote a performance of Jane Shore at the ‘The Theatre Sydney’ on 30 July 1796 by George Hughes (the first Australian government printer).  It forms a part of the National Library of Australia collection Playbill - Jane Shore - NLA and is not only Australia’s oldest playbill but the oldest example of Australian printing.  It is recognised by UNESCO as a document of world significance. 

This Frankston collection includes programmes, correspondence and publications from the Frankston Theatre Group and the Victorian Drama League during the 1950’s and 1960’s.

The origins of the Frankston Theatre Group can be traced to a fundraiser for the Red Cross in 1942 but was formed as a public body in December 1945. For more information on the history of the Frankston Theatre Group see History of the Frankston Cultural Centre 1880-1995

The Victorian Drama League was created in 1952 to support the amateur theatre world in Victoria and is the only umbrella organisation for non-professional theatrical groups in the state.  By 1960 the League had a membership of 245 (203 Dramatic Societies and 42 individuals) and housed the most comprehensive drama library in the southern hemisphere.  The League’s first One-Act Play Festival was held in Frankston in 1952 and designed as a competition based festival to encourage the amateur theatre scene in Victoria.