The past is a foreign country as the saying goes, and they certainly did entertainment differently there.

While esteemed intellectuals like Mark Twain graced the stage of the Mechanics’ Hall, more dubious entertainment reveals the prevailing attitudes and prejudices of the time. The Royal American Midgets, General and Millie Mite, performed a season in 1880, just a few years before meeting Queen Victoria. Minstrels appeared regularly, with the Georgia Minstrels ironically taking offence at the mechanics’ also hosting a séance during their season in 1877. That same year, a constable was requested to man the entrance of the institute to police the rowdy behaviour and filthy language of patrons. They weren’t attending a boxing match – yes, we held ‘boxing nights’ at the time – but a marionette show.

Through archival documents, newspapers and photographs, this exhibition will guide you through the foreign country
of entertainments – and audiences – past.