This film is an amateur recording of a night of Victorian Music Hall performed by junior school pupils of the Royal Grammar School Newcastle. Most of the film uses a single camera position. The film begins with two boys standing either side of a notice which reads, RGS Junior School Presents a Victorian Music Hall. Members of the audience begin to take their seats in the theatre some wear Victorian costume. The music starts as a pianist on stage plays the national anthem and the audience...

This film is an amateur recording of a night of Victorian Music Hall performed by junior school pupils of the Royal Grammar School Newcastle. Most of the film uses a single camera position. The film begins with two boys standing either side of a notice which reads, RGS Junior School Presents a Victorian Music Hall. Members of the audience begin to take their seats in the theatre some wear Victorian costume. The music starts as a pianist on stage plays the national anthem and the audience stands and sings. The house lights go down and a spotlight picks out a master of ceremonies wearing a top hat, standing behind a lectern. He greets the audience with a hearty ‘Good Evening’. He admonishes the audience on the quality of their response and suggest they try harder. After a much louder response from the audience to the MC’s greeting, he outlines in grandiloquent language the entertainment for the evening. The first act is a gymnastic team and afterwards, with a suitable build up by the MC a pianist plays. A monologue is performed next, followed by a violinist who performs Rule Britannia. A ‘two-handed’ monologue follows next where the boy behind the reciter acts as his hands and arms. Their monologue is possibly ‘The Green Eye of the Yellow God’ by J Milton Hayes. The chorus sing a few popular songs including, The Lambeth Walk, Underneath the Arches and My Grandfathers Clock. The rest of the first half of the show has repeat appearances by musicians and includes variety acts such as a duo performance of the children’s song Hole in the Bucket. The second half of the show is a performance of what is possibly a Victorian style melodrama. After the play a pianist plays a medley of tunes at the end of the show and the cast sing songs. A member of the teaching staff thanks all those who contributed to the production and everyone leaves the stage with MC being the last and he takes a bow.