Keighley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s production of “The Rebel Maid” played at the Hippodrome Theatre in Keighley for six nights (and a Saturday matinee) from Monday 9th October 1922. The romantic light opera was written by Alexander M. Thompson, with lyrics by Gerald Dalton and music by Montague F. Phillips. Dalton and Phillips had actually created the opera while serving in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during the First World War. The musical director was Joseph Harker, while the producer and stage director was Avalon Collard.
The story is set in the autumn of 1688 and centres around the rebellion against the Stuart dynasty, in the form of King James II, led by Prince William of Orange (played by George Best). The action takes place in the mansion of Lord Milverton (played by Edward Greenwood) on the coast of Devon, the local inn ‘The Jolly Fishers’ and the village green. Amongst the plots and counter-plots is a romance between Derek Lanscombe (Watson Walker) and Lady Mary Trefusis (Edith Robson), who’s secret identity is ‘Snow Bunting’ a.k.a. the Rebel Maid. The production also starred Tom Coates, Ernest Marsden, Frank Shuttleworth, Alan Petty, Sydney Calvert, Mrs Percy Taylor, Mabel Rothera, Hilda Smith, Kitty Connolly and Edith Smith.
The 44-page programme was printed by The Keighley Printers Ltd. of High Street, Keighley. It measures approximately 255 mm by 193 mm (although the internal pages are slightly smaller than the cover). The programme was part of an anonymous donation given in 2022.
