Royal Variety Performance

For a general description of performances for the monarch, see Royal Command Performance.
Royal Variety Performance
Also known as Royal Command Performance
Genre Variety show
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of episodes 85 (list of episodes)
Release
Original network BBC One
ITV
Original release 1912, 1919, 1921–23, 1925–28, 1930–38, 1945–55, 1957 – present
External links
Website

The Royal Variety Performance (1912 - present) is the annual fundraising event of the Royal Variety Charity and is held each year in the United Kingdom. The TV show is presented as a live variety production with contributions from numerous performers from around the world. It is usually staged in London before a live theater audience, and always held in the presence of senior members of the British Royal Family. The evening's performance is a variety show consisting of family entertainment, including comedy, singing, dancing, magic and other speciality acts, and many of the performers and hosts are celebrities. The event is organised by the Royal Variety Charity of which Queen Elizabeth II is patron.

The performance is broadcast on television and is considered by many to be a tradition of the Christmas season, as it is held in late November or early December each year. ITV is the sole broadcaster, having shared that responsibility with the BBC from 1960 until 2010.[1]

Background

Early years

In 1912, His Majesty King George V and Her Majesty Queen Mary agreed to attend a Royal Command Performance at the Palace Theatre at Cambridge Circus. The proceeds from the event were designated as contributions to the Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund (VABF). The VABF planned to expand Brinsworth House, the care home for the aged and retired entertainers. The inaugural production was an extravagant occasion. The Palace Theatre was decorated with, by some estimates, over 3 million roses.[2][3] As planning began the event was referred to as the Music Hall Command Performance. Eventually the organizers Alfred Butt, Oswald Stoll and George Ashton renamed the venue the Royal Command Performance.[4] The biggest names in British entertainment were gathered together at the Palace Theatre to perform before King George V, Queen Mary and the Prince of Wales.[5] The most prominent name missing from the program was Marie Lloyd, the music hall performer. The organizers of the event decided to omit Lloyd due to the risqué nature of her performances and deemed not appropriate for the Royals.[6][7]

After correspondence with Sir Edward Moss the King said he would command a Royal Variety show in his Coronation Year 1911, provided the profits went to the Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund, as the EABF was then known. It was planned to be in the Empire Theatre, Edinburgh, part of the vast Moss Empires group, but the building went on fire a month before the show. After the death of Sir Edward Moss, Alfred Butt was chosen as the impresario and it was staged in 1912.[8]

Top performers included Vesta Tilley, George Robey, David Devant, Anna Pavlova (ballerina), Harry Lauder and Cecilia Loftus. The organisers did not invite Marie Lloyd, because of a professional dispute. Her act was deemed too risqué and her three public, unsuccessful marriages made her unfit to perform in front of royalty.[9] She held a rival performance in a nearby theatre, which she advertised was "by command of the British public". The name of the event was changed to prevent possible royal embarrassment. The Royal Variety became an annual event at the suggestion of King George V from 1921 and the British Broadcasting Corporation began to broadcast it on radio.

The Programme

The Programme[10]
1. Overture
2. Pipifax and Panlo
3. Barclay Gammon
4. The Palace Girls
5. George H. Chirgwin
6. The Bogannys
7. Fanny Fields
8. Paul Cinquevalli
9. Harry Tate
10. Ida Crispi and Fred Farrn
11. Vesta Tilley
12. La Pia
13. Little Tich
14. Alfred Prince and “Jim”
15. Selection, music by The Palace Orchestra
16. Alfred Lester assisted by Buena Bent
17. Clarice Mayne
18. Charles T. Aldrich
19. George Robey
20. David Devant
21. Wilkie Bard
22. Anna Pavlova
23. Harry Lauder
24. Cecilia Loftus

Variety article

On 3 July 1912, Variety, an entertainment magazine in the United States, received a story via cable from London detailing the Royal Command Performance of 1 July 1912. That cable is reprinted here for the sake of posterity and accuracy.[11]

"London, July 3.
"The Royal Command performance was finally given at the Palace Music Hall Monday night without a hitch apparent to the audience. Most of the artists suffered by being confined to a time allowance ranging from six to nine minutes; nervousness prevailed, and they failed to do full justice to themselves. The three biggest hits were Harry Tate, George Robey and Pipifax and Panlo. The King and Queen laughed unrestrainedly and applauded generously throughout. Robey was the surprise of the performance and scored a great individual hit. Vesta Tilley was hardly noticed by the monarchs. Charles T. Aldrlch did five minutes. Wilkie Bard was too late on the bill. Fred Farren and Ida Crispi (American) did not appear. They were asked to cut their act and refused, resigning rather than accede to the request. "Happy" Fanny Fields was the hit among the women. Cecilia Loftus gave two impressions. The Bogannys' Opium Den went fine, and Arthur Prince was a solid success. Anna Pavlowa was the artistic hit, and Harry Lauder, with one song, next to last, got nothing exceptional in the matter of approval. Paul Cinquevalli missed twice. The estimated receipts are $35,000, half of which goes to charities. Orchestra seats sold as high as $25 each, with what are called "Rover's tickets ' (standing room) bringing $5. The first three rows of the orchestra were reserved for the King and Queen's party, the remainder of the lower floor being disposed of to the public. There is much discontent among the artists left out of the performance and the Variety Garden Party, which may result in a large number of resignations from the V. A. F. The King and Queen sent a message saying they thoroughly enjoyed the performance. They never moved from the royal box from eight o'clock until eleven-thirty. The decorations were magnificent, consisting of over a million real flowers and special panel decorations covering the entire theatre. All new scenery was used, and the house wonderfully lighted. Royalty was in full view of the audience, who took their cue for applause and laughter from them. It was a great triumph of organization for Alfred Butt. Not a thing went wrong."

Unfortunately, the outbreak and duration of the Great War meant the delay of the second Royal Variety Performance until 1919.

From 1928 through to 1938, the impresario-producer and manager of the London Palladium, George Black, took over the presentation of the Royal Variety Performance. He would also facilitate as compere at the shows. His first production was held on 1 March 1928 at the London Coliseum and from 1930 to 1937 he held the shows at the London Palladium. His 1938 show returned to the London Coliseum. Throughout World War II from 1939 to 1944 no shows were presented. The show resumed in 1945 after the war ended.

From 1960 to 2010, the BBC and ITV broadcast a recorded version of the show, alternating the production between their two main channels, with the BBC producing and televising the 'even years' and ITV televising the 'odd years'. In both 1976 and 1978, the BBC broadcast the show live. The BBC usually staged the show in a West End theatre, and ITV in regional theatres outside London. From 2011, ITV have exclusive rights to televise the show.[1] The show has been frequently staged in the London Palladium theatre, and in the 1950s and 1960s a television show based on the same idea, called Sunday Night at the London Palladium and hosted by many entertainers, including Bruce Forsyth, ran for over 20 years.

Almost every conceivable sort of act has at one time or another been presented to the monarch at the Royal Command Performance, including Laurel and Hardy in 1947, the Beatles in 1963, the Supremes in 1968 and the Blue Man Group in 2005. At the Beatles' show on 4 November 1963, John Lennon delivered a line to the well-heeled audience which has passed into legend: "For our last number I'd like to ask your help: Will the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands? And the rest of you, if you'll just rattle your jewellery ..."

The money raised by the Royal Variety Performance provides most of the funding for Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund and its home, Brinsworth House, a home for retired members of the entertainment profession and their dependants.

Performances

After the first Royal Variety Performance on 1 July 1912 presented by Sir Alfred Butt, it was seven years before the next show, on 28 July 1919 held at the Coliseum Theatre presented this time by Sir Oswald Stoll. The orchestra was conducted by Edward Elgar. In 1921 it moved to the Hippodrome, and was held in November. It was the first time that the Royal Variety Performance became an annual event. In 1923 it moved to the Coliseum Theatre. Then after a gap in 1924, moved to the Alhambra Theatre in February 1925, where it remained in 1926, held on 27 May. It was the first Royal Variety Performance to be broadcast, with the BBC providing live radio coverage.

In 1927 there was another move, this time to the Victoria Palace Theatre, with J. A. Webb the compère. The 1928 show, on 13 December, was held at the Coliseum Theatre. The next show, on 22 May 1930, moved to the London Palladium with George Black and Val Parnell compèring. It was the start of seven successive years at the venue.

In 1935 the Royal Variety Performance was held in the Silver Jubilee year of King George V and Queen Mary. This was the last time King George V attended – he died three months later, in January 1936.

There have been two Royal Scottish Variety Performances, both attended by Queen Elizabeth, and presented by Howard & Wyndham Ltd in Glasgow's Alhambra Theatre, which Sir Alfred Butt had opened, in 1958 and 1963.[8]

Britain's Got Talent

Main article: Britain's Got Talent

Since 2007, one act of the Royal Variety show has been selected by the British public through the ITV television talent show Britain's Got Talent.

A public telephone vote decides the most popular act in each semi-final, which then progresses to the final, along with a second act chosen by the judges. The grand final is then broadcast live and all the acts perform again for the public vote.

Winners

Venues

The London Palladium, where the performance has most often been held.

There have been a total of 17 theatres that have staged the 81 Royal Variety Performances, and the 1912 Royal Command Performance. Out of the total of 82 shows, 75 have been in London theatres and seven in other cities and towns.

Note: Where no town or city is noted in the theatre column in the following table, the venue is situated in London.

Theatre No. Years Notes
London Palladium 40 1930–1937, 1946–1948, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1957, 1962, 1964–1978, 1980, 1987–1990, 2008, 2010, 2013–14
London Coliseum 10 1919, 1923, 1928, 1938, 1945, 1949, 1953, 1958, 2004, 2006
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane 7 1979, 1981–1983, 1985–1986, 1991
Dominion Theatre 7 1992–1996, 2000–2001
Victoria Palace Theatre 6 1927, 1951, 1955, 1960, 1984, 1997
Hippodrome, London 2 1921–1922
Alhambra Theatre 2 1925–1926
Opera House Theatre, Blackpool 2 1955, 2009
Prince of Wales Theatre 2 1961, 1963
Royal Albert Hall 2 2012, 2015 100th Anniversary
Palace Theatre, London 1 1912
Palace Theatre, Manchester 1 1959
Lyceum Theatre 1 1998
Birmingham Hippodrome 1 1999
Hammersmith Apollo 1 2002
Edinburgh Festival Theatre 1 2003
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff 1 2005
Liverpool Empire Theatre 1 2007
The Lowry, Salford Quays, Salford 1 2011

Royal Family attendance

A total of 16 members of the Royal Family have attended the 86 Royal Variety Performances, and the 1912 Royal Command Performance.

Name No. Years Notes
Queen Elizabeth II 37 1949, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955 (Blackpool), 1955 (London), 1957, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964–65, 1967, 1969–71, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989–90, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012 [12]
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother 26 1937–38, 1945–51, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991 [13]
The Duke of Edinburgh 25 1953–55 (Blackpool & London), 1957–58, 1960, 1962, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1985, 1987, 1989–90, 1993, 1997, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012
King George V 15 1912, 1919, 1921–23, 1925–28, 1930–35
Queen Mary 15 1912, 1919, 1921–23, 1925–28, 1930–35
Charles, Prince of Wales 12 1968, 1977, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013
King George VI 8 1937–38, 1945–50
Princess Margaret 4 1949, 1951, 1968, 1990
Duchess of Cornwall 3 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013
Anne, Princess Royal 2 1968, 2011 [14]
Prince Harry 1 2015
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge 1 2014
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge 1 2014
Diana, Princess of Wales 1 1992
Sarah, Duchess of York 1 1986
Earl of Snowdon 1 1968
Queen Maud of Norway 1 1922

Key Personnel

The Management Body of the Royal Variety Charity is made up of key people within the UK entertainment industry[18], all giving up their services free of charge for the benefit of the Royal Variety Charity. Notable figures in the history of the Royal Variety Charity and its annual fundraiser, have included, Sir Oswald Stoll, Val Parnell, Lew Grade, Leslie Grade, Prince Littler, Bernard Delfont, Sir Louis Benjamin and Peter Prichard OBE.[15][16]

Ratings

In the 1960s, the televised edition of the show was the number one rated show for the entire year in the UK in 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1967 and 1968, with the show ranked 6th in 1964, 3rd in 1966 and 2nd in 1969.[17]

In the 1970s, the show top the annual rankings in 1975 and ranked 8th in 1970, 4th in 1971, 9th in 1976 and 3rd in 1977.[18]

Ratings sourced from BARB.

Airdate Viewers
(millions) 		Broadcaster Overnight share
20 December 1998 11.24 BBC1 N/A
4 December 1999 10.60 ITV 41.0%[19]
17 December 2000 7.92 BBC1 N/A
28 November 2001 11.55 ITV 47.0%[20]
15 December 2002 8.19 BBC1 30.9%[21]
26 November 2003 8.56 ITV 36.8%[22]
14 December 2004 6.60 BBC1 31.0%[22]
11 December 2005 9.82 ITV 36.8%[23]
12 December 2006 7.98 BBC1 33.7%[23]
9 December 2007 7.78 ITV 27.2%[23]
17 December 2008 7.75 BBC1 31.7%[24]
16 December 2009 9.56 ITV 37.4%[25]
16 December 2010 8.90 BBC133.0%[25]
14 December 2011 7.61^1 ITV 29.2%[26]
3 December 2012 9.24^2 ITV 33.7%[27]
9 December 2013 8.30^3 ITV 31.3%[28]
8 December 2014 7.64^4 ITV 28.7%[29]
8 December 2015 4.94 ITV1 TBD

Notes:

1 6.75 million on ITV, 564,000 on ITV HD and 293,000 on ITV +1.
2 8.05 million on ITV, 767,000 on ITV HD and 422,000 on ITV +1.
3 7.07 million on ITV, 832,000 on ITV HD and 398,000 on ITV +1.
4 6.31 million on ITV, 919,000 on ITV HD and 413,000 on ITV +1

See also

Further reading

References

  1. 1 2 "EABF - Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund / History of the Royal Variety". eabf.org.uk.
  2. ↑ Editor. (2 July 1912). Royalty in the music hall: The “Command” Performance at the Palace. Manchester Guardian. Page 9.
  3. ↑ Bevan, Ian. (1954). Royal Performance: The Story of Royal Theatregoing. Hutchinson.
  4. ↑ Maunder, Andrew. (2015). British Theatre and the Great War, 1914 - 1919: New Perspectives. Springer.
  5. ↑ Thomson, Robert. (30 November 2012). Royal Variety Performance celebrates 100 years. Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers Ltd. London.
  6. ↑ Macqueen-Pope, Walter (2010). Queen of the Music Halls: Being the Dramatized Story of Marie Lloyd. London. Nabu Press.
  7. ↑ Editor. (2016). Marie Lloyd. Victoria and Albert Museum.
  8. 1 2 Graeme Smith (2011) Alhambra Glasgow ISBN 978-0955942-01-3
  9. ↑ "1912, London Palace Theatre". Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  10. ↑ Hibbert, Henry George. (2016). The Souvenir Programme. Royal Performance by Command of His Majesty The King. Palace Theatre. 1st July 1912. The Story of the Music Hall. http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/PalaceTheatreRoyalPerformance.htm. Accessed 21 April 2016.
  11. ↑ Editor. (5 July 1912). Royal Command Performance. Variety. VOL. XXVII. No. 5. NEW YORK. PRICE TEN CENTS.
  12. ↑ Attended in 1949 as Princess Elizabeth.
  13. ↑ Attended as Queen Elizabeth between 1937 and 1951 and as The Queen Mother from 1959 onward
  14. ↑ Originally Her Majesty The Queen was due to attend the 2011 show, but plans were altered.
  15. ↑ It's Behind You - The Impresarios - The Littler
  16. ↑ History of the charity
  17. ↑ http://fiftiesweb.com/tv/tv-ratings-uk-60s/
  18. ↑ http://fiftiesweb.com/tv/tv-ratings-uk-70s/
  19. ↑ "OVERNIGHT RATINGS - Bee Gees and Macca still rocking viewers". broadcastnow.co.uk.
  20. ↑ "Royal Variety gives ITV1 peak-time crown". broadcastnow.co.uk.
  21. ↑ "Fame Academy shows the doubters". broadcastnow.co.uk.
  22. 1 2 "Royal Variety show draws 8.5m". broadcastnow.co.uk.
  23. 1 2 3 "Royal Variety performs for ITV1 with 7.4m". broadcastnow.co.uk.
  24. ↑ "Royal Variety Performance draws 8.7m". Digital Spy.
  25. 1 2 "Royal Variety performs to 8.3m". broadcastnow.co.uk.
  26. ↑ "Royal Variety Performance attracts 6.8m on ITV1". Digital Spy.
  27. ↑ "ITV's Royal Variety Performance enthralls 8.2m, peaks with over 9m". Digital Spy.
  28. ↑ "ITV's Royal Variety Performance attracts 7.3m, down from 2012". Digital Spy.
  29. ↑ "Royal Variety Performance attracts 6.5m, down from 2013". Digital Spy.

External links

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