A Chronicle of Small Beermanuscript

This material is held atV&A Theatre and Performance Collections

  • Reference
    • GB 71 THM/394/1
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1951
  • Name of Creator
  • Physical Description
    • 1 item

Scope and Content

Handwritten, hardback copy of Dolan's autobiography, A Chronicle of Small Beer. This was written towards the end of her life, by which time she was living in the Community Infirmary on the grounds of the New Hall school and convent. The volume is labelled on spine with title and name of author and '1951' is written on the following page, along with a selection of quotations. There is a brief prologue, explaining her reasons for writing her memoirs so late in life, which is undated (the edited version of her autobiography, published in 2010 by the Society for Theatre Research dates this prologue as May 1949). The first page holds a black and white studio portrait of Dolan, labelled 'St James' Theatre 1891' and the following page is inscribed: 'For private circulation only!'. Although mostly text-based, the book also features the following:

  • Portrait of Dolan, St James' Theatre, 1895.
  • Group image of the St James' Company at Balmoral, shows Dolan and George Alexander, amongst others, undated.
  • Set of publicity images for the 1897 production of The Tree of Knowledge, two of which show Dolan in her role of Deborah the maid.
  • Variety of images and sketches of both Ellen Terry and Henry Irving in a variety of roles, undated.

Geographical Names