Emile Littler Archive

Photographs, correspondence and designs collected by Emile Littler throughout his career. The correspondence includes letters to and from a number of costumiers. The designs are mostly for productions at Daly's Theatre in 1913, many of these are not connected with Littler productions. The collection also contains some scrapbooks, posters and miscellaneous business documents.

Emile Littler (1903-1958) was one of the greatest British theatrical impresarios of the 20th century, particularly for pantomime and musicals. The son of theatrical managers Agnes and Jules Richoux, Emile and his siblings were adopted by Frank Littler after he married their mother. Three of the Littler children - Blanche, Prince and Emile - went on to become the most influential producers of their day who understood better than most the pitfalls of a career in show business. Emile Littler started his theatrical career as assistant stage manager at the Ambassador Theatre, Southend in 1922, moving to the Royal Court Theatre in London a year later as business manager, and in 1925 becoming assistant stage manager at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

This archive collection is available for consultation in the V&A Blythe House Archive and Library Study Room by appointment only. Full details of access arrangements may be found here: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/.

Access to some of the material may be restricted. These are noted in the catalogue where relevant.

Information on copying and commercial reproduction may be found here: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/.

See also the production file for The Marriage Market at Daly's Theatre in May 1913 in addition to core collections of the V&A Theatre and Performance Department. Material related to Emile Little, this above play and subjects involved in the production may be found in several collections, including the biographical, productions, company and photographs files.

Please ask for details.