Anthony Binns

The review One Over The Eight opened on 6th March 1961, boasting a brilliantly funny cast performing sketches by brilliantly funny writers! The show returned to SHT in May 1962 with Kenneth Connor replacing Kenneth Williams.

The Top 10 Oldest Theatres in England Which is England’s oldest theatre? We present a star-studded cast of venerable performing spaces of different kinds.

We've contributed to Historic England's blog with a piece on England's oldest theatres 🎭

A question to which there isn't an easy answer, but hopefully sparks some discussion - and highlights some amazing buildings along the way 🏛️

heritagecalling.com/2026/03/05/t...

Musical comedy The Boy Friend opened at Streatham Hill Theatre on 2nd March 1958.

It's Monday, it's Music Hall! 🎭 #MusicHallMonday
The legendary boots of Little Tich — whose Big-Boot Dance influenced everyone from Chaplin to Tati — are on loan from our #archive to Blackpool's Showtown Museum. Go and see them!

Lucan & McShane - better known as Old Mother Riley and her daughter, Kitty - brought their show to Streatham on 1st March 1943.

🔥 #SongSheetSaturday 🔥 "Jeremiah, Blow the Fire," from 1877, was performed by GH MacDermott. This cheeky tune gained popularity in music halls for its "doubtful character." Consider these chorus lines: 'Jeremiah, blow the fire, puff, puff, puff, First you do it gently, then you come it rather rough'

One week to go before the first of these webinars.

Still time to book your free place www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/event...

To mark Women's History Month, we're opening our doors for a hands-on afternoon with our archive. Explore original posters, programmes, costumes, scrapbooks & more — with a special focus on women in music hall & variety.
📅 Thursday 12th March | 🕐 2–4pm | 📍 Lambeth Archives

After a successful run at The Globe, the comedy Canaries Sometimes Sing opened at Streatham Hill Theatre on 24th February 1930.  This production is credited as the breakthrough role that launched the career of Yvonne Arnaud.

🌟 Our President's Lunch is on Sunday 22 March 2026. Join BMHS President Su Pollard for a three-course lunch, a glass of bubbly on arrival 🥂, and an afternoon with special guests Jeffrey Holland (her Hi-De-Hi! co-star!), panto pal Jamie Leahey & a mystery guest TBA! 🎭

Sheet music cover for 'It's A Bit of A Ruin That Cromwell Knocked About A Bit' sung by Marie Lloyd. Inset full length photograph of Marie Lloyd. British Music Hall Society Archive image.

🏰 #SongSheetSaturday 🏰
"It's a Bit of a Ruin that Cromwell Knocked About a Bit" (1921)
Performed by the incomparable Marie Lloyd, Queen of the Music Hall who brought this witty number to life, poking fun at England's crumbling historical sites with her trademark cheeky charm #MusicHall

The play Waiting In The Wings, set in a charity home for retired actresses, opened in Streatham on 20th February 1961. This programme is signed by Dame Sybil Thorndike and her co-star (and husband) Lewis Casson.

Last November, I gave a talk at The London Archives' Symposium on Music Hall, covering a tragic 'unrideable mule' incident that began on-stage at the Clapham Grand in 1906, now adapted as a blog post here 👇️
musichallalice.wordpress.com/2026/02/18/a...

This week's theme was London Couples 💘

Hope you enjoyed it!

Take a look over the timeline for full details of these and the rest of the featured pieces.

J.W. Cragg with two of his sons, each wearing an opera hat (collapsible top hat) and evening tail suit - the starting costume for their acrobatic act.

Thrilled to have found a new photo of the Marvellous Craggs, from 1885 when the family was touring America with Haverly’s Minstrels.

The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre wish you a very happy Valentine's Day!

💕 #SongSheetSaturday meets Valentine's Day! 💕
"Lovetime (Any Old Time Will Do)" (1908), sung by George Lashwood with words by Harry Castling & music by Fred Godfrey. Forget fancy restaurants & overpriced roses - according to this Edwardian charmer, when it comes to romance, any old time will do!

A photo of the team, volunteers and Chris Addison

A BIG thank you to everyone who helped make Slapstick Festival 2026 a huge success!

We really appreciate our special guest speakers, musicians, partners, patrons, volunteers, the venues, and all the team behind the scenes who organised these events.

📸 David Betteridge Photography

George Williams Archive. Page from his scrap book with photographs of friends inc, Quentin Crisp. BMHS Archive image.

Black and white promotional postcard for George Williams in flat cap, wearing a rubber ring & holding a ukulele. British Music Hall Society Archive

Page from the personal scrapbook of performer George Williams. BMHS Archive,

George Williams as clown, in tweed flat cap. BMHS Archive.

For LGBTQ+ History Month we're highlighting George Williams (1910-1995) whose archive of scrapbooks & unpublished autobiography is held by the BMHS. After early success, George was imprisoned for homosexuality in 1952 but resumed his career in the 60s. buff.ly/xee50mu

From 7th February 1955, a lavish production of South Pacific enthralled Streatham audiences. Almost last on the cast list is a young hopeful called Sean Connery!

Slapstick Festival 2026 Day 4 schedule

We've reached the weekend and Day Four of #SlapstickFest26!

There's still time to join us After Dark with One Cut of the Dead 🧟‍♂️, hosted by @brisblakhorrorclub.bsky.social and @robinince.bsky.social

Tickets below 🎟️

Sheet music cover for 'Come Out' (1901) written by& performed by Music Hall performer Austin Rudd. Bold red lettering for song title and performer name and comical illustration by HG Banks. British Music Hall Society Archive.

🎵 #SongSheetSaturday 🎵
A gem from 1901 "Come Out" by Austin Rudd. This piece, with both music and lyrics by Rudd, is complemented by HG Banks' whimsical illustration of a husband in the waves while his wife demands he "Come out!" For the full music, contact our #archive (details on our website)

Throwback to September 2025, in the latest @musichallsociety.bsky.social ‘Call Boy’, with a little piece about the excellent #MusicHall themed ‘Wax Fruit’ book launch at BAaD Glasgow

Follow @waxfruittvseries on Instagram for more updates!

@jamiemacdougall.bsky.social

Historic theatre in a semi-derelict state but its former glory can still be seen.

Some good news from @salfordvictoria.bsky.social 🎉

With our support, the group has successfully applied to @archhfund.org.uk for a project viability grant and has registered as a charity

Significant steps towards bringing this theatre back into use

www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/news/...

Audience taking their seats in a small theatre with wording "Applying to our Small Grants Programme - webinar"

Not-for-profit theatres 🎭

Interested in applying to our Small Grants Programme? Grants of up to £7.5k for access, sustainability and viability projects

Find out more about what we are looking for at our webinar on 18 February

www.theatrestrust.org.uk/latest/event...

It has now been over eight months since the Streatham Hill Theatre Change of Use application was first made but it is not on the agenda for the January Lambeth planning meeting. However, you can still email your objections - details on the process here: https://streathamhilltheatre.org/campaign

Streatham Hill Theatre programme advertising from 1930.

Collage of photographs and postcards of Daisy Dormer, music hall performer dating approx 1900-1925.

My great great aunt, Daisy Dormer, #musichall performer was born #otd 16 January 1883 in Portsmouth. Here's a few images of her from my collection.

Black and white song sheet cover from 1915 for "Come and Cuddle Me" featuring a head & shoulder photograph of Dorothy Ward. Text lists written by Clifford Harris; composed by Jas W Tate and sung my Miss Clarice Mayne. Published by Francis Day & Hunter Ltd. From the British Music Hall Society Archive.

Our first #SongSheetSaturday of 2026 – “Come & Cuddle Me”. As the temperatures drop, this might be a solution for seeking that extra warmth. A 1915 #panto hit for Dorothy Ward, composed by Clifford Harris & Jas W. Tate (Clarice’s husband).

In the month that The Great Vance took his final bow in 1888 on the stage of the Sun Music Hall, Knightsbridge, here is his 'Beautiful Nell' for #songsheetsaturday by Stacey Lee & R Coote with lithography by Alfred Concanen #MusicHall