Last updated 08:37, Tuesday, 04 March 2008

BORED! Nothing to do. Nowhere to go. Just how many times have I heard these words?

More times than I care to remember! But how can anyone be bored today,?

With radio, TV, internet and a whole host of other technological goodies I’m only dimly aware of, there shouldn’t be enough hours in the day, or so you would think.

Spare a thought then for our Victorian ancestors, who had none of these.

What a boring existence local Victorians must have had. That’s what I used to think, before I started delving into the past.

Let’s see what was on offer in January 1891. What about nightly performances at the Queen’s Opera House in Workington. For one week, beginning January 19 the world-famous Sam Hague’s Minstrels were appearing.

Never heard of him? Few people have nowadays but in the 19th century he was a big name in popular entertainment. He started as a clog dancer. He went to America in 1850 and, according to some, was responsible for introducing our transatlantic cousins to English clog dancing. He returned to England around 1866, bringing a 10 strong troupe of coloured dancers, which he called Sam Hague’s Slave Troupe of Georgia Minstrels.

The American Civil War had just ended and some of his dancers had been slaves. His original group broke up and by the time he came to Workington, he was probably employing an all-white group.

So could Workington support a theatre opening nightly for a week? Probably not, but then it didn’t have to.

People came in from the towns and villages to go the Opera House.

They came on the train. From Maryport, Cockermouth and Whitehaven. Just like we can today? I wish! But in 1891, special late trains were laid on, leaving Workington at 11pm.

For those who didn’t care for variety, the Theatre Royal was putting on, for the week, The Silver King which was, to quote, “Mr Wilson Barrett’s Great London Production, in which Charles Dornton’s celebrated company will appear under the management of Mr Charles Arnold.”

The advertisement states that W Carter-Brown was the theatre’s “Responsible Manager.” Which begs the questions, would they ever have appointed an irresponsible manager?

W Carter-Brown was also putting a pantomime on the road – to visit some of the towns in the county. It was entitled Bluebeard, the Great Bashaw, or: A Lover’s reciprocity! A Husband’s Ferocity!! And a Wife’s Curiousity!!!” The printer had gone a bit mad with the exclamation marks.

It’s like no pantomime I’ve ever seen but it was claimed to be “the greatest galaxy of artistes that ever appeared together in the North of England. Full chorus and 40 of the greatest artistes travelling.” Carter Brown was organising the tour on behalf of The West Cumberland Public Catering Company. So who owned this company? I don’t know – yet!

The more classically minded could have attended the eighth annual concert organised by the Maryport Amateur Orchestral Society, held in the Athenaeum and featuring Madame Priscille Aptommas, harpist to Sir Charles Halle.

Over in Cockermouth, John F Dunn, billed as the English Paganini, was appearing at the public hall, assisted by, amongst others, the famed local violinist Fred Furnace.

Not to be outdone, Messrs John G Murdoch and Co. put on a Grand Evening concert in the Duke Street Mission Hall, Workington. Appearing that night were Madame Trebelli (the World renowned contralto); Signorina Elvira Gambogi (of the Royal Italian Opera); Henry Piercy, tenor; Stephen Adams, vocalist and composer; August van Beine, violincellist and Chevalier L Emil Bach, formerly pianist to the Royal court of Prussia. It was a quality concert, being repeated the next night in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester.

Just a few entertainment offerings back in the back end of January, 1891. This doesn’t mention any of the regular events and meetings held by the numerous organisations in the area or the attractions of the even more numerous public houses.

Feel like dancing? Then how about the dance held in the Workington Drill Hall, after the Old Folks’ Supper, admission one shilling, commencing at 11pm and finishing probably about three or four in the morning.

Weekly theatre and variety shows, concerts, late night dances, etc. Victorians bored? Never. They didn’t have the time.