Find out about the history of Wilton's through different projects you can do at home or in the classroom;
1. Build Wilton's Music Hall as it looked in 1690, 1853 and 1859
2. Play a fun Mini Card Game
3. Make your very own playbill
4. Download each biography pack of 8 real life people connected to Victorian Music Hall.
All downloads are free and designed for a standard A4 printer, print in black or white or colour!
Build Wilton's
Join John Wilton as he shows you how Wilton's has changed over the years through three different make your own hall sets.
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Downloadable resources
1690 A4 Print-At-Home Pack: In 1690, Graces Alley was called Boat Alley. Wilton's Music Hall hadn't been built yet and instead there was a row of ordinary terraced houses with back yards. The biggest house, on the same site as our bar is now, was a pub called the King of Denmark.
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1853 A4 Print-At-Home Pack: In 1853 John Wilton built his first small music hall behind the Mahogany Bar at no. 1 Grace’s Alley. It was a place that many local people came to be entertained and to eat and drink. Download this pack to build your very own paper Wilton's from 1853.
Download
1859 A4 Print-At-Home Pack: In 1859 John Wilton opened his second much larger grand music hall behind 2,34 Graces Alley and the Mahogany Bar at no. 1 Grace’s Alley. It was a place that many local people came to be entertained and to eat and drink. Download this pack to build your very own paper Wilton's from 1859.
Download
Music Hall Characters Card Game
Download and print out this music hall characters card game. Cut out your cards to play as an individual or compete against other players to get all 8 acts for your music hall night! Each card includes a description of each Victorian music hall act, an image of the performer and a score for their strengths/weaknesses, making it a fun way to learn about the types of performers that would have graced Wilton's stage in the 1850s!
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Downloadable resources
Make a Playbill
Download this handy pack with everything you need to make your very own Victorian playbill (except glue and scissors!) Typography and design by Anthony Burrill. Made with the help of Wilton's Teacher Advisory Team (Fred Beer, Anna Burt, Anne Edwards, Janice Hill-Kocoglu, Michaela Marinko, Jaspreet Mann and Michelle Woolfenden).
Real Life Characters
Meet the music hall characters who performed at Wilton's over 150 years ago! These comedians, singers and songwriters were celebrities in their day and well loved by Wilton's audiences. This is your chance to learn more about Wilton's colourful performance history through the characters that made it so magical.
These packs include: bullet point facts, a character biography and direct address from the characters themselves.
These packs include: bullet point facts, a character biography and direct address from the characters themselves.
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Downloadable resources
Annie Adams ☞ A singer who performed at Wilton's whose songs, both sad and funny, led her to be the first music hall star to make it in America.
Download
Arthur Lloyd ☞ Arthur Lloyd was one of the leading music hall stars to be described as a ‘Lion Comique’ (a lion of comedy).
Download
George Leybourne ☞ With an impressive stage presence, George Leybourne was the biggest star of the early music hall period. He is best known for his character, Champagne Charlie.
Download
John Wilton ☞ The gentleman who gave Wilton's it's name, he built the current music hall in 1858 and was usually Master of Ceremonies.
Download
Madame Senyah ☞ One of the most thrilling acts to perform at Wilton's in the 1860s, Monsieur and Madame Senyah were circus artists known for swinging over audiences' heads on the flying trapeze.
Download
Little Tich ☞ A genius comedian and wonderful acrobatic dancer who sang comic songs and could play many instruments.
Download
Sam Collins ☞ One of the stars of John Wilton's Opening Night, Sam Collins was famous for performing Irish comic songs.
Download
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