Souvenir Programme for Herbert Beerbohm Tree's production of King John

Herbert Beerbohm Tree was a pre-eminent figure of the British stage in the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. With his success as an actor-manager he funded the renovation of Her Majesty's Theatre and began staging a series of lavish productions of Shakespeare. King John ran from from September 1899 and this programme, produced for the 60th show, was funded by the British Mutoscope and Biograph Company. They had shot three scenes from the production on their large-format system in their new London studio, these being the first ever attempts to capture Shakespeare on film. They were released simultaneously internationally to coincide with the opening of the play and reflect Beerbohm Tree's enthusiasm for innovation. Shot by W K L Dickson, just one is known to survive - showing King John's death - and is in the EYE Filmmuseum.

Part of the Bill Douglas and Peter Jewell Collection