Barry Humphries (1934-)

Historical notes

Barry Humphries, born 1934 in Melbourne is a multi-talented actor, artist and author. He began his stage career in 1952 in Call Me Madman. As actor he has invented many satiric Australian characters such as Sandy Stone, Lance Boyle, Debbie Thwaite, Neil Singleton and Barry (Bazza) McKenzie but his most famous creations are Dame Edna Everage debuted in 1955 and Sir Les Paterson in 1974. Edna, Les and Bazza between them have made several sound recordings, written books and appeared in films and television and have been the subject of exhibitions. Since the 1960s Humphries' career has alternated between England, Australia and the USA giving solo shows, with his material becoming more international. Barry Humphries' autobiography More Please (1992) won him the J.R. Ackerley Prize in 1993. He has won various awards for comedy and as TV personality. In 1994 he was accorded an honorary doctorate from Griffith University, Queensland. He was given an Order of Australia in 1982.

Material written by or about Humphries is available on the Library's catalogue. This includes published works, oral history interviews, music, manuscripts, biographical cuttings, pictorial works, films and video recordings.

Holdings list

This Holdings list is a listing of programs which document Barry Humphries on stage in Australia and overseas from the beginning of his career in the 1950s, based on material in the National Library of Australia's PROMPT collection. This PROMPT collection also includes cuttings from newspapers and other ephemera relating to Humphries. The PROMPT Collection is the name given to the National Library's collection of programs and ephemera relating to the history of Australia's performing arts and culture.

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Access

Material from the PROMPT collection is available for use through the Petherick Reading Room, Ground Floor. Readers should complete an electronic call slip for the following catalogue record:.

[Barry Humphries, Australian born actor, artist and author : theatre programmes, etc. / held in the PROMPT Collection, National Library of Australia]

Australian programs

1955 Mr and Mrs; Phillip Street Theatre; Sydney.
Barry Humphries in various revue sketches.
1956, Dec. 14 Alice in Wonderland; Phillip Street theatre, Sydney. Barry Humphries as Caterpillar, Mad Hatter, 7 of Spades. Christmas pantomime.
1956/57 Around the Loop; Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney.
-1956 copy with cast change slip in red print has program of 29 items. BH lyricist of Colour question and in various revue sketches.
-1957 copy has program of 30 items many which differ from the 1956 program. BH lyricist of A Moment for Stocktaking and in various revue sketches.
-Another 1957 copy with cast change slip in black print has program of 32 items many which differ from the 1957 program. BH in various revue sketches.
All copies contain portraits of BH.
1958 May- The Bunyip and the Satellite; Independent Theatre, Sydney.
By Peter O'Shaughnessy and Jeffrey Underhill with the assistance of Barry Humphries. BH as the Bunyip. Copies held in PROMPT Collection under Independent Theatre, Sydney.
1958 Rock 'n Reel; Melbourne.
Barry Humphries in an intimate revue; written by Barry Humphries and Peter O'Shaughnessy. Production by Peter O'Shaughnessy.
1959 Peter O'Shaughnessy, Barry Humphries testimonial performance; Assembly Hall [Melbourne]. Review of their work over the past few years.
1962 A Nice Nights Entertainment; Australian Tour.
1964 Mar.

Mumba Jumba and the Bunyip; Unley Town Hall, SA by Peter O'Shaughnessy. Lyrics by BH. Music by Valerie Fawcett. 4 p. Also 1 p. of details of production in the general 1964 Adelaide Festival program.

Copies held in PROMPT Collection under Adelaide Festival of the Arts, 3rd, 1964.

1965 Dec. 29

Mumba Jumba and the Bunyip; St. Martin's Theatre, Melbourne. /1966 by Peter O'Shaughnessy. Lyrics by BH. Music by Val Marriott. 4 p. ; 23 cm.

Copies held in PROMPT Collection under St. Martin's Theatre, Melbourne.

1965 "Excuse I", another Nice Nights Entertainment; [Australian tour]
1965 Oct. "Excuse I", Another Nice Nights Entertainment; Brisbane; J C Williamson Theatres Ltd. Large format, 25 cm.
1965 "Excuse I", Another Nice Nights Entertainment; Melbourne; J C Williamson Theatres Ltd.
1965 Dec "Excuse I", Another Nice Nights Entertainment; Adelaide, Her Majesty's Theatre
1965/1966 "Excuse I", Another Nice Nights Entertainment; Sydney; Royal Theatre.
1966, Feb. "Excuse I", Another Nice Nights Entertainment; Melbourne, J C Williamson Theatres Ltd.
1968 Just A Show; Australian Tour.
1968, July Just A Show; Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide
1968 Aug. Just A Show; Tivoli Theatre; Sydney.
1971 A Load Of Old Stuffe; Playbox Theatre; Sydney.
A divertissement in two acts; one copy labeled First Night.
1974 At Least You Can Say You've Seen It; "A tragi-farce in two acts". Cover inc. photo. of Dame Edna with her new grandson Troy Everage.
1975 At Last You Can Say You've Seen It; Her Majesty's Theatre; Melbourne. Cover inc. a sketch of Dame Edna against a purple background.
1978 Isn't It Pathetic At His Age? Her Majesty's Theatre; Sydney.
World Premier, May 24.
1978 Isn't It Pathetic At His Age? Comedy Theatre; Melbourne.
1979 A Night Out With Dame Edna; Australian Tour.
A deluxe keepsake program.
1981 A Evening's Intercourse; Australian Tour.
1983 Song of Australia; Regent Theatre, Sydney and Melbourne Concert Hall.
An educational sonarama crafted by Barry Humphries and Carl Davis.
1985 Tears Before Bedtime; [Melbourne ?].
1988 Dame Edna's Australian Walkabout; Special guest Sir Les Patterson.
1991 The Life And Death Of Sandy Stone; Athenaeum Theatre; Melbourne.
"De Luxe programme".
1993 Look At Me When I'm Talking To You;
"Barry Humphries pictorial companion".
1999 Remember You're Out! "Limited edition collectors' souvenir"
2003 Back to my roots (Australian Tour)
2006

Barry Humphries & friends: Back with a vengeance – a new effort.
Precious keepsake brochure.

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Overseas programs

1959, Dec. The Demon Barber; Lyric Opera House; Hammersmith, London.
Barry Humphries as Jonas Fogg.
1960 Oliver!; New Theatre, London.
Barry Humphries as Mr Sowerberry; 4 copies.
1963 The Bedsitting Room, Comedy Theatre, London. Barry Humphries as Captain Bules Martin
1963, Feb. Oliver!; Imperial Theatre, London.
Barry Humphries as Mr Sowerberry.
Playbill,v.1, no.9, Feb.25, 1963.
1963 Oliver!; [New York] Barry Humphries as Mr Sowerberry.
Large format
1964 Merry Roosters Panto; Wydnham's Theatre, London.
Barry Humphries as Heinrich, a scientist.
1964 Mar. A Kayf Up West; Theatre Royal; Stratford, London.
Barry Humphries as Gregorius, 2nd Policeman, Nun, Lord Sexkilling, and "Tools" Gunstone.
1964 Maggie May; Palace Theatre, Manchester. Barry Humphries as Balladeer.
1964 Sept. Maggie May; Adelphi Theatre, London;
Barry Humphries as Balladeer; 2 copies.
1967 Oliver!; Piccadilly Theatre, London.
Barry Humphries as Fagin.
1969 Just A Show; Fortune Theatre, London.
1976 Housewife! Superstar!!; Apollo Theatre, London.
Barry Humphries as Dame Edna, Les Patterson, Sandy Stone.
2 copies - March 1976. Apollo Theatre
3 copies - May, July 1976. Globe Theatre
1977 Housewife! Superstar!!; Theatre Four, Off-Broadway, New York.
1977, Oct 19. Housewife! Superstar!!; Theatre Four, New York.
1978/79

A Night With Dame Edna; Piccadilly Theatre, London.
Programmes in numbered series by "Theatre Print"
- No.39 Dec. 1978 & No 40 Jan. 1979 have on cover "Heil die neue Ednalichkeit!"
- No.41 Feb. 1979& No.42 Mar. 1979 have on cover “Introducing the pivotal work of  Barry Humphries” and changes to text.

1981 The Secret Policeman's Other Ball; Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London.
1981 Amnesty International Comedy Gala.
Port. of Barry Humphries
1981 The Last Night Of The Poms; Royal Albert Hall, London.
Barry Humphries as Dame Edna, Sir Les Patterson.
"Official souvenir programme"
1982 An Evening's Intercourse; Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London.
1983 Carl Davis in Croydon.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson.
1987/88

Back With a Vengeance; The Strand, London;
Copy 1: "Royal Gala Charity Night in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales in aid of the Royal Marsden Hospital Cancer Fund, Monday, 16th November 1987". [70] p. ; 30 cm.
Copies 2-4: "This upmarket brochure is an instant heirloom! If you would betray your grandchildren's heritage, skimp". [20] p. ; 31 cm.
Copy 5: UK Tour 1988. “This upmarket brochure is an instant heirloom! If you would betray your grandchildren’s heritage, skimp”.

1988, Mar. 27 Sunday with Sondheim; featuring a celebrity tribute to Stephen Sondheim and a concert version of Merrily We Roll Along; Shaftesbury Theatre. Special guest artists appearances including Dame Edna Everage with twelve others.
1989, April A Royal Gala in aid of the Prince's Trust : an evening of contemporary music and comedy celebrating 21 years of London Weekend Television. In the Presence of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales ; London Palladium.
Barry Humphries has top billing.
1989, Sept.13 Noel Coward's Semi-monde; Royalty Theatre, London. Royalty Theatre Company
BH as one of the hotel guests and staff
1989 Back With a Vengeance, The Second Coming; Theatre Royal, Drury Lane London.
1994 Oliver!; London Palladium. Barry Humphries given top billing playing Fagin. Program notes address him as Dr.
1995, Oct. Look At Me When I’m Talking To You!; The Grand, Theatre & Opera House, Leeds.
1995, Oct. Look At Me When I'm Talking To You!; Palace Theatre, Manchester.
1995, Nov. Look At Me When I'm Talking To You!; Empire Theatre, Liverpool.
1997 Jack In Review; Lyric Theatre, London. A memorial tribute to the critic Jack Tinker. Barry Humphries in The Ladies Who Lunch
1997, Feb. Jack In Review; London Palladium. A memorial tribute to the critic Jack Tinker. Barry Humphries in The Ladies Who Lunch
1997, Oct. Dame Edna Everage In An Evening Of Innocent Austral Verse; Wigmore Hall, London.
Master Series I: A Festival of Australian Music, Artists and Poetry, as part of new Images, Australia and Britain into the 21st Century.
Program notes introduce him as Dr.
1997, Nov.

Australian Festival; Wigmore Hall, London
Master Series I

1998, Mar. Edna -- The Spectacle; Theatre Royal, Plymouth.
1998, April New Edna - The Spectacle : An Icon Returns; Theatre Royal, Haymarket.
1998, May 17 Sondheim Tonight - a gala concert celebrating the music of Stephen Sondheim for the benefit of the Alan Jay Lerner Fund for Cancer Research at the Royal Marsden Hospital; Barbican Centre, London.
The Ladies Who Lunch - Dame Edna Everage Includes port. of Dame Everage
1999, Nov. Dame Edna - The Royal Tour; The Booth Theatre; New York
2000, Mar. Dame Edna – The Royal Tour; The Booth Theatre; New York
2000, June Tony Awards; Radio City Music Hall, New York.
BH was awarded “A Special Tony Award for a Live Theatrical Event” will be presented to the production of Dame Edna :The Royal Tour
2001, Jan Dame Edna - The Royal Tour; Parker Playhouse; Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2001, July 4, 8, 17-22 Dame Edna - The Royal Tour; Tropicana Casino/Resort; Atlantic City
2004, Nov. Dame Edna – Back with a Vengeance; The Music Box; USA
2004, Dec. Dame Edna – Back with a Vengeance; The Music Box; USA

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