hamlet

via Newcastle Libraries

Never mind what play was being performed, the theatre promoters knew that the name of Barry Sullivan would attract a full house. Bradford Review - Saturday 24 November 1866

digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dd-fa7e-a3d9-e040...

Barry Sullivan (christened Thomas Barry Sullivan; 5 July 1821 – 3 May 1891)
" ... Sullivan was five feet nine inches (175 cm) tall[2] and had a wiry, slight figure which allowed him to play younger parts when he was middle-aged.[1] For a long period Sullivan was one of the finest actors of his period, though at times inclined to err on the robust side.[2] In Melbourne Sullivan's death resulted in lengthy obituaries; he was remembered as an actor and manager of 'more than ordinary talent, combined with considerable force of character, great tenacity of purpose, untiring industry, and a dogged application to the business of his profession'."

See - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Sullivan_(English_actor)

There was no end to his talent and versatility. An anecdote recounted in the Tatler on Wednesday 21 September 1927:

Mr. Barry Sullivan, one of our great actors of old days, was appearing as Hamlet at Portsmouth. The audience consisted mainly of sailors, who were out for a good time. When Barry Sullivan was about to commence the famous soliloquy "To be or not to be," the sailors demanded that he should dance the hornpipe for their amusement. Barry tried to talk them down, but one of them shouted "Look here, Barry Are you going to dance as my pals wish or am I to come down on the stage and make yer do it?" So the sedate Hamlet danced a hornpipe and then continued the soliloquy.

Thanks!

Look like it was taken in 1926. Nice old photo. Added to commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Addington_Highlands Thanks for posting to Commons!

Inkwell owned by Walter Bentley According to the donor, this inkwell was presented to the actor Walter Bentley from the city of Newcastle, NSW, in 1914. Walter Bentley made his professional stage debut in New Zealand in 1873 before returning to Britain determined to be a successful actor. After becoming one of Britain's leading Shakespearean actors, including three and a half years working with Henry Irving, he founded his own theatre company and starred opposite the famed Italian actress Adelaide Ristori. In 1883 Bentley left Britain for the USA and toured there for three years playing at first Wilfred Denver in the popular drama 'The Silver King,' a character he created in many important US theatres, followed by leading roles in 'Burr Oaks' and then 'Love or Money' which he wrote. The role of Wilfred Denver was one of the great triumphs of his career and was considered the most successful in his repertoire when he toured Australia and New Zealand between 1891 and 1900. In 1891 he played at George Coppin's Theatre Royal in Melbourne as Rob Roy and Hamlet, a role he performed in Sydney in 1893. He appeared as Richelieu in 'The Three Musketeers' at Sydney's Her Majesty's Theatre. Australian audiences at this time also saw him play Matthias in 'The Bells', Hamlet and David Garrick. After a ten-year absence, Bentley returned permanently to Sydney in 1909 to perform again as Hamlet. The 'Sydney Morning Herald' wrote 'Mr. Bentley held the crowded audience, and he must be classed amongst the few Hamlets of the day whom all good judges of acting would make a point of seeing'. Around 1912 a Melbourne publisher produced an edition of 'Hamlet' 'arranged for stage representation from the 1623 folio edition by Walter Bentley'. He played Hamlet again at Sydney's Theatre Royal in 1913, but he was reportedly past his prime. Dr. Sue-Anne Wallace, granddaughter of Walter Bentley is currently researching for a biography of Walter Bentley. She believes it was probably the Scots community in Newcastle who, delighted to have such a world-renowned Scottish actor in their midst, organised to have this Inkwell presentation piece made to honor Bentley's skills and versatility as an actor. (Conversation with Curator Glynis Jones 9/02/2021) Source: collection.maas.museum/object/9448

Thanks for this Vesna Verencevic. The State Library was looking for information to advertise "World Theatre Day" on the 27th March 2022. Your information on this photographs will assist. Keep up the great work ...