An exhibition is displaying artefacts from the Athenaeum’s archives, showcasing how Christmas has been celebrated in different ways in the theatre throughout history.
The exhibition is free to attend and open Monday to Saturday from 10.30am to 1pm. It will close on 24th December.
The display features original carol sheet music, newspaper advertisements, contemporary revues, a Christmas tree decorated as in Victorian times, artists’ impressions and festive images.
“From the formative years of the Athenaeum back in the 1850s, through the Victorian era and beyond, we have welcomed the people of Warminster to enjoy the magic of Christmas within our walls. This year it will be for the sell-out traditional pantomime ‘Goldilocks and The Three Bears’, but many decades ago it was with varied and different styles of festive events,” said Andrew Frostick, archivist for the centre, who has assembled the display.
“The exhibition takes a look at the annual spectacle, from 1853 to 1893, that was the Athenaeum Christmas Soirée. These events took place just before the New Year, attracting over 500 guests – they were the pinnacle of the Victorian ideal of Christmas entertainment. From the grand illuminated Christmas tree to the giving of gifts, readings of Dickens, carols, illusionists, exhibitions and more, there was something for everyone to enjoy.”
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