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The Geisha, a story of a tea house is an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts. The score was composed by Sidney Jones to a libretto by Owen Hall, with lyrics by Harry Greenbank. Additional songs were written by Lionel Monckton and James Philp. The Geisha opened in 1896 at Daly's Theatre in London's West End, produced by George Edwardes. The original production had the second-longest run of any musical up to that time. The cast starred Marie Tempest and C. Hayden Coffin, with dancer Letty Lind and comic Huntley Wright. The show was an immediate success abroad, with an 1896 production in New York and numerous tours and productions in Europe and beyond. It continued to be popular until World War II and even beyond to some degree. The most famous song from the show is "The Amorous Goldfish".[1] Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Geisha

MOON AND MORRIS REVUE Co. Formed in mid-1926 by English-born dancers and comedians George Moon and Daniel Morris, the Moon and Morris Revue Company presented a combination of revue sketches and vaudeville. The troupe included several well-established and high-profile performers such as former Famous Diggers comedian, Ed Warrington (who wrote much of the material) and Alec Kellaway. The troupe is known to have still been performing around Australia and New Zealand in 1929. Formed in mid-1926 by English-born simultaneous dancers George Moon and Daniel Morris, the Moon and Morris Revue Company presented a combination of revue sketches and vaudeville. Much of the troupe's repertoire was written by its director, Ed Warrington, who had previously been associated with Pat Hanna's Famous Diggers. However, the company did occasionally stage refusals, with two of the more popular being My Mountain Maid and Dad, Choom and Co. In addition to Warrington, the troupe initially boasted several well-established and high-profile performers, notably Alec Kellaway, Durham Marcel, Nell Fleming, Irene Vando, and Kathleen Howard. In reporting on the company's Brisbane debut in 1926, the Brisbane Courier records: "The current offering, Wit, and Wisdom go with a swing from the first to the final curtain. It is a potpourri of dancing, music, and song, backed up by clever ballet and colorful stage settings, and through it all Messrs. Moon and Morris have infused a series of skits that bristle with fun. This quaint pair long ago danced their way into the hearts of Brisbane audiences, but there seems no end to the diversity of their dancing and this week they introduce much that is new" (19 July 1926, 9). Moon and Morris temporarily disbanded their troupe at the end of September in order to appear with Elton Black's New Follies at the Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane. Several members of their troupe were also engaged by Black, notably George Moon Jnr and Nell Fleming. Although the company is known to have toured Australia on the Fullers' circuit in 1929 (E: 11 Dec. 1929, 30), no location details have yet been established. Source: ozvta.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/moon-and-morris-revu...

Empire Theatre Built in 1911, rebuilt in an art deco style in 1933 following a fire, and finally restored and reopened in 1997, the Empire Theatre has served as an entertainment hub for Toowoomba and the surrounding areas for over 100 years, playing an integral part in the cultural development of the region. The heritage-listed theatre is a building with rich history and fine architecture, including the grand proscenium arch, decorative sconces, original brick walls in the foyers, and art-deco style lighting. With modern seating for 1565 people, the theatre continues to receive countless commendations from patrons and performers. Source: www.empiretheatre.com.au/about-us/#:~:text=Built%20in%201....

His Majesty’s was the largest theatre in Brisbane and it hosted most of the productions by professional touring companies throughout its 95-year history. The Majesty theatre was demolished it on 23 October 1983 and the Hilton Hotel and Wintergarden Shopping Centre were built on the site. Source: zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Performance_of_Swan_Lake_a...(7946595504).jpg

Her Majesty’s Theatre originally opened on 2 April 1888 as Her Imperial Majesty’s Opera House (193 Queen Street between Albert and Edwards Streets) with a seating capacity of 2,250. It changed its name after the death of Queen Victoria to His Majesty’s Theatre on 23 March 1901, a name which is kept throughout the reign of the 3 Kings and even though some of Queen Elizabeth's reign, eventually being renamed Her Majesty’s Theatre. Sometimes referred to as the Brisbane Opera House, and affectionately known as “Her Maj“. Her Majesty’s Theatre earned the distinction of being the first in Brisbane to present an attractive facade as well as interior. Her Majesty’s Theatre was the theatre for the socially elite in Brisbane with a standard dress code for audiences of formal evening attire. A hotel was also included within the basic design of the building. The main entrance to the theatre was between two shops. The ceiling of the auditorium was decorated with an intricate design of cornices. The orchestra level seating housed almost 700 people and the stalls could fit 550. A further 400 people could sit in the Dress Circle which was accessed by its own entrance and staircase, while another staircase could access the Family Circle for 600 people. In 1928 extensive renovation of His Majesty’s Theatre took place which on reopening in 1929 now had a seating capacity of 1,387. This refurbishment also included the removal of the separate gallery and dress circle and the installation of a new combined dress circle. Further cosmetic renovations occurred in 1941. His Majesty’s Theatre was the largest theatre in Brisbane and it hosted most of the productions by professional touring companies throughout its 95-year history; J.C. Williamson's company held the lease on the theatre for more than 80 years. Her Majesty’s Theatre was sold to the A.M.P. Society for $3 million in 1973. Some of the final shows at Her Majesty’s Theatre included the Queensland Theatre Company production of the musical ANNIE from Nov/Dec 1981, the Lyric Opera of Queensland production of Il Trovatore starring Rita Hunter in September 1982, The Rocky Horror Show starring Stuart Wagstaff in October 1982 with a final production of JC Williamson’s production of EVITA in October 1983. Despite community protest, the Kern Corporation demolished it on 23 October 1983 and the Hilton Hotel and Wintergarden Shopping Centre were built on the site. The Kern Corporation caused a Union ban on construction at the site because, despite assurances that the facade of the colonial theatre would be kept as part of the new building, the entire building was destroyed. Source: tobysimkin.com/brisbane-theatre-history/#Her_Majesty8217s...

Brisbane Ballet Theatre’s First Production Brisbane Ballet Theatre was formed on 14 April 1953 with Mr Cyril Johns as Artistic Director. Its first production was Swan Lake, Act 2 performed at the Albert Hall, Brisbane on 26 October 1953. Nineteen dancers took part, led by guest artist Ruth Ellis and Cyril Johns, with a pianist and two violinists providing the Tchaikovsky music. This event was a co-production with the Brisbane Arts Theatre and the evening began with a performance of Noel Coward's play Hands Across the Sea. A lecture demonstration on ballet training was given by Cyril Johns and narrated by Brenda McCullough. The entire production was enthusiastically received by the audience. The Brisbane production was positively reviewed by the Courier-Mail’s critic Roger Covell under the headline BALLET THEATRE IN SUCCESSFUL DEBUT: The size and enthusiasm of the audience at the first performance of the Brisbane Ballet Theatre in Albert Hall last night made the evening phenomenally successful. If the newly-formed group had any doubts about their welcome in Brisbane, last night dispelled them. The house was packed and a long queue waited outside in the hope of returned tickets. If the audience showed more enthusiasm than discrimination, that was what last night needed. The Albert Hall stage, for instance, was far too small for the corps de ballet in Act II of Swan Lake. But a sympathetic eye could see the good work which the stage and an unsatisfactory musical accompaniment was hampering. And the work of the principals, Ruth Ellis and Cyril Johns set a worthy ideal for the rest of the company. For those who could not get in last night, the Ballet Theatre announced that it hoped to present soon a lunch-hour performance of Swan Lake Act II. Later that year on 13 November, the theatre group took its production of Swan Lake, Act II to Toowoomba, in association with Clare Drew's Cameo Ballet. Sources: Australia Dances: Creating Australian Dance 1954-1965 by Alan Brissenden and Keith Glennon & The Courier-Mail, 27 October 1953.