Photographs from the 1966 production of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ at the Tivoli Theatre, Sydney

PXA 7515

fonds

1966

Graphic Materials, Photographs

9669365

20 photographic prints - 20 x 14 cm, and smaller - silver gelatin and copy prints

William Gill (1935-2004), was a leading Australian ballet dancer, company principal and choreographer. Gill was a principal of the Borovansky Ballet and danced in London and Europe, before opening Studio 52A at The Spit with his life partner Les Peterkin. In 1971 he formed the Sydney Festival Ballet, and in 1981 Gill moved to Tyalgum, near Murwillumbah, with Peterkin, who is a potter, to open the Bakehouse Pottery. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Tyalgum Theatre Group before retiring to Tweed Heads. Les Peterkin (1934- ) has had a varied career as a physical education teacher, musician and potter. In 2002, he took up a residency at Lindisarne College, and started moving into stained glass, painting and silver smithing.

The Tivoli Circuit was a successful and popular Australian vaudeville entertainment circuit which flourished from 1893 to the 1950s before suffering a severe decline in popularity after the introduction of television in Australia in 1956. The Sydney Tivoli building in Haymarket was leased out to various establishments until the building was demolished in 1969.

References:
Library correspondence file
New Tivoli Theatre, the Dictionary of Sydney, https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/new_tivoli_theatre (accessed 24 January 2023)

15 photographic prints and 5 photographic copy prints of the 1966 production of Alice in Wonderland at the Tivoli Theatre, Sydney, depicting the production from the wings at side of stage and cast members in their dressing rooms. The show was a Phillip Street Theatre production directed by William Orr, and featured Kathleen Gorham as Alice, Max Oldaker as The Duchess, Michael Boddy as Humpty Dumpty, Barbara Wyndon, and William Gill.

In copyright:
Copyright holder:: Les Peterkin
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder

The donor had originally corrected the date on the five photographic copies from 1966 to 1968, however the production date should read Dec 1966. ​

The original photographs are inscribed in ink on verso with names of cast members and some descriptions of scenes. The copy print photographs have 'Tivoli Theatre, Sydney' printed at head of photos, and 'Kathleen Gorham, Alice in Wonderland, Dec 1966' at foot of images.