A column (by William Kerr?) on the 'arrangements for the commencement' of the new season at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney. Improvements in the 'construction of the stage and the disposition of the scenery' had been undertaken by James Belmore (? - 1834) 'the talented Hobart Town mechanist'. The 'handsome new drop scene .. by Messrs. Fitchett and Strong, of Pitt-street' was completed as well as a 'saloon attached to the dress circle'. Of the company of actors Conrad Knowles and Harriet Jones had been engaged but the actresses Maria Taylor and Mrs Larra and the actor Lane had, according to the writer, not been re-engaged. An actor, Mr Winters (possibly Jemmy Winters), is also mentioned as well as changes in the orchestra. '[George?] Peck is engaged as leader, and Wilson and Sippe added ... to the orchestra, while Dean [John Philip Deane] and his talented boys are excluded.' The first performance of the new season was to be Shakespeare's Hamlet, with Knowles as Hamlet and Eliza Winstanley as Ophelia, and 'an amusing farce called Bachelors' Buttons, which has never before been played in the Colony.'
'Rumours ... regarding the ultimate disposal of the Old Theatre', i.e. the Theatre Royal, Sydney. One of the rumours is a report of a possible sale of the 'premises attached to the Old Theatre, which includes the Royal Hotel and Shakespeare Tavern.'
Advertisement for the reopening of the Royal Victoria Theatre on 27 October 1838 with the performance to include 'Shakespeare's Tragedy of Hamlet. The part of Hamlet by Mr Knowles, His first appearance these two years' and a 'laughable Farce, entitled Bachelors' Buttons'. The performance included a dance by Miss Lazar.
Advertisement for the sale of '9 cases of books which have never been opened in this Colony. Among them ... many of the Works of - Sir Walter Scott; Bulwer; Marryatt [Frederick Marryat]; James; Maria Edgeworth; Miss Jane Porter; Fielding; Cooper; Ainsworth; Smollett; [William] Shakespeare; Bloomfield; Tomas Moore [Thomas Moore]; Thomson; [Alexander] Pope and Addison.' The advertisment advises that 'Catalogues will be ready on Thursday next.'
