Flits Across the Stage: Theatrical Ephemera from the Heritage Collection

 ‘Ephemera’ is a term for printed material originally produced to provide details about specific events, and intended for temporary use rather than long-term preservation.

Ephemera is collectable because it enhances information found in longer-lasting documents to provide a fuller picture of life at a given point in time. In addition, ‘throwaway’ literature of this type sometimes has considerable visual appeal, combining text - in a wide array of period fonts - with images and photographs.

The bulk of the McNab Ephemera Collection consists of theatre programmes, many dating back to the late nineteenth century and from theatres which have long since disappeared. Numerous programmes are for local productions but many are for visiting musicians, singers, theatre and dance troupes from within New Zealand or from abroad.

The latest Reed Gallery exhibition Flits Across the Stage: Theatrical Ephemera from the Heritage Collection showcases a selection of visually-stimulating highlights from this diverse collection of theatrical ephemera. The emphasis is on Dunedin’s vibrant theatrical heritage from its thriving origins in the late nineteenth century until the gradual demise of its Dunedin centrepiece, His Majesty’s Theatre, in the early 1970s.

Reed Gallery Exhibition: Flits Across the Stage: Theatrical Ephemera from the Heritage Collection
22nd July – 9th October
3rd Floor, City Library