1953 Theatre Programme The Wild Duck – John Neville Robert Eddison Norman Rossin

Up for sale is an authentic, rare vintage theatre programme for The Bristol Old Vic Company’s 1953 production of Henrik Ibsen’s masterpiece, “The Wild Duck”. Staged at the historic Theatre Royal in Bristol (founded 1766), this production features a legendary mid-century British cast before they achieved massive screen and stage fame, including John Neville (Gregers Werle), Robert Eddison (Hjalmar Ekdal), Norman Rossington (Pettersen), and Kenneth Cope (Jensen). The play was produced by Denis Carey with atmospheric settings designed by Patrick Robertson.

An exceptional piece for collectors of theatrical ephemera and Bristol local history, this booklet also serves as a beautiful mid-century time capsule. It includes a listing of upcoming productions (such as Jean Anouilh’s Thieves’ Carnival and Shakespeare’s Henry V), a notice for the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’s performance of Crime and Punishment, and classic mid-century illustrated advertisements for Capstan Cigarettes, BBC’s Radio Times, Carwardines Tea & Coffee Rooms, and Simonds Tavern Pale Ale.

Condition Report:
The programme is in very good, complete vintage condition. The striking red and white illustrated cover remains bright with minimal storage wear to the edges and corners. The inside pages are clean, tightly bound, and entirely crisp with clear text throughout. No missing pages or heavy annotations. Please review all high-resolution photos to fully assess the item’s condition.