Guide to the Theatre programs and related material regarding Barry Humphries, 1950-

 

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Collection context

Summary

Collection number:
Humphries
Language:
English and English
Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use this material should refer to the Ephemera PROMPT collection.

Citation of items from this collection should include references to author's/organisation's name, date, item title, Publisher and place of publication.

Example: J.C. Williamson (Firm). Theatre Royal (Adelaide, S.A.). 1950, Gilbert Sullivan opera season [theatre program] : The gondoliers J. C. Williamson Ltd [Adelaide]

Availability:
Available

Background

Content Summary:

The Barry Humphries PROMPT collection includes programs, ephemera and newspaper cuttings which document Barry Humphries and his alter egos on stage in Australia and overseas from the beginning of his career in the 1950s into the 21st Century.

Printed materials in the PROMPT collection include programs and printed ephemera such as brochures, leaflets, tickets, etc. Theatre programs are taken as the prime documentary evidence of a performance by Barry Humphries. In a few cases however, the only evidence of a performance is a piece of printed ephemera. In these cases the type of piece is identified, eg, brochure.

The list is based on imperfect holdings and is updated as gaps in the Library's holdings for these artists are filled. Unless otherwise stated, all entries are based on published programs in the PROMPT collection.

Biographical / Historical:

Barry Humphries was born in Melbourne on the 17th of February 1934. He is a multi-talented actor, satirist, artist and author.

He began his stage career in 1952 in Call Me Madman. As actor he has invented many satiric Australian characters such as Sandy Stone, Lance Boyle, Debbie Thwaite, Neil Singleton and Barry ('Bazza') McKenzie - but his most famous creations are Dame Edna Everage who debuted in 1955 and Sir Leslie ('Les') Colin Patterson in 1974. Dame Edna, Sir Les and Bazza between them have made several sound recordings, written books and appeared in films and television and have been the subject of exhibitions. Since the 1960s Humphries' career has alternated between England, Australia and the United States of America with his material becoming more international.

Barry Humphries' autobiography More PleaseMore Please (London; New York : Viking, 1992) won him the J.R. Ackerley Prize in 1993. He has won various awards for theatre, comedy and as a television personality. In 1994 he was accorded an honorary doctorate from Griffith University, Queensland and in 2003 received an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Melbourne. He was awarded an Order of Australia in 1982; a Centenary Medal in 2001 for "service to Australian society through acting and writing"; and made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for "services to entertainment" in 2007 (Queen's Birthday Honours, UK List). Humphries was named 2012 Australian of the Year in the UK.

Arrangement:

This finding aid is divided into three parts encompassing:1. Australian performances: Including Humphries in plays, revues, pantomimes, solo productions and musical theatre. It is specified if the item is held in another file in the PROMPT Collection.2. Overseas performances: Documenting Humphries in plays, revues, pantomimes, solo productions, musical theatre and television. 3. Other ephemera which includes Exhibitions: Australian and overseas, Events: Australian and overseas, Tribute performances: Australian and overseas, and Miscellaneous: Australian and overseas.

The arrangement in each sequence is chronological by year and then by month, week or day. All dating is based on evidence in the programs or ephemera. Descriptions for each holding are arranged chronologically by year as follows: day/s and month; Venue/Theatre (City, State); Company name name of production; form plus creator etc., character/s played by Barry Humphries and/or indications of his role as performer, director, etc.

The listings also note the number of programs held and other directly related ephemera (eg tickets and posters). Most include photographs and/or biographical notes.

Access and use

Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use this material should refer to the Ephemera PROMPT collection.

Citation of items from this collection should include references to author's/organisation's name, date, item title, Publisher and place of publication.

Example: J.C. Williamson (Firm). Theatre Royal (Adelaide, S.A.). 1950, Gilbert Sullivan opera season [theatre program] : The gondoliers J. C. Williamson Ltd [Adelaide]

Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact: