English theatre writer and Drury Lane pantomime director Frank Dix was brought to Australia in 1912 by J. C. Williamson's Ltd to oversee the production of the Puss in Boots pantomime. The following year he directed and contributed new material for the Firm's production of the hit London revue Come Over Here (also marking the first staging of revue in Australia). Although Dix returned home in mid-1914 at least five of his pantomimes were staged by Williamson's in Australia between 1914 and 1920. These were all adapted for local audiences and included collaborative input from local practitioners such as music directors/composers Andrew MacCunn and Victor Champion, writer Harry Taylor, and choreographer Minnie Everett. These productions included The Forty Thieves (1913), Cinderella (1914), The House That Jack Built (1916), Goody Two Shoes (1918), The Sleeping Beauty (1919) and Humpty Dumpty (1920).
[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
