Colonial Secretary Guide - Flipbook - Page 294
- 293 APPENDIX J
PLAYS SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL PRIOR TO BEING PERFORMED
By an Act of the Governor in Council, 9 George IV No. 14 entitled "An Act for regulating places of public
exhibition and entertainment" (1 September 1828):
... if any person, or persons, shall act, represent, or perform, or cause to be acted,
represented, or performed, whether such acting or performance be gratuitous, or be for
hire, gain, or reward, any interlude, tragedy, comedy, opera, concert, play, farce, or other
entertainment, of the stage, or any other parts therein, or any stage dancing, tumbling, or
horsemanship, or any other public entertainment whatever ... without authority and
license from the Colonial Secretary ... forfeit and pay, for every such offence, the sum of
fifty pounds".
Please note that the Registers of licences granted under this act are located:
AO Reel
2231
Location
4/1710
4/5784
Dates
Jan 1829 - Sep 1844
Oct 1844 - Apr 1863
In accordance with this act copies of plays were submitted to the Colonial Secretary for approval prior to
being performed. He retained these copies in his office for reference if necessary. Originally the plays
were with the covering letters but they have been removed and placed at SZ numbers for greater security.
This regulating power was extended to cover cinematographic films under the Theatres and Public Halls
Act, 1908.
BILLY BARLOW, an Eccentric Farce in one act, by Charles Alexander Dibdin. (Covering letter 43/5607
in 4/4559.1; play at SZ49; microfilm copy of play AO Reel 29)
CONTRADICTION, or A WIFE UPON SUFFERANCE, a farce in two acts. (Covering letter 43/5358 in
4/4561.1; play at SZ50; microfilm copy of play AO Reel 2558)
THE CURRENCY LASS or MY NATIVE GIRL, an operetta in two acts by the author of 'The Hibernian
Father". 2 volumes. (Covering letters with 44/4164 from W. Knight in 4/2653.5; play at SZ51 A & B;
microfilm copy of play AO Reel 29, and photocopy at City COD108)
DESRUES, a Melodrama in three acts. 3 volumes. The play was performed at the Royal Victoria Theatre.
(Covering letter 43/7061 in 4/4561.1; play at SZ52 A, B & C; microfilm copy of play AO Reel 2558)
THE DUEL, a drama in two acts, translated from the French of "Un Duel sous Richelieu". This play was
performed at the Royal Theatre, Sydney, as THE DUCHESS DE CHEVREUSE, or, A DUEL IN THE
OLDEN TIME, a drama in three acts by J. H. Montefiore Esq. First produced 22 August 1843. (Covering
letters with 43/5494 in 4/4561.1; play at SZ53; microfilm copy of play AO Reel 2558)
THE DUELIST, a drama in three acts by J. Simmons. (Covering letters with 44/4374 in 4/2655.1; play at
SZ54; microfilm copy of play AO Reel 2558)
THE HIBERNIAN FATHER, a tragedy in five acts. Submitted for approval by William Knight in 1844.
(Covering letters with 52/4057 in 4/3078; play at SZ55; microfilm copy of play AO Reel 2558)
