In this unique book Frank Van Straten raises the curtain on the hidden history of Adelaide's most remarkable playhouse, Her Majesty’s Theatre. For one hundred eventful years 'the Maj' has hosted an extraordinarily diverse cavalcade of entertainment - from the grandest of grand opera to earthy vaudeville; from Dame Joan Sutherland and Sir John Gielgud to Stiffy and Mo, Whoopi Goldberg and Julian Clary. It's a place crowded with happy memories, a couple of benevolent ghosts - and it's Barry Humphries' favourite Australian theatre.
Enriched by a treasure-trove of rare photographs, posters and costume and set designs,
Her Majesty's Pleasure will delight anyone who loves show business and who loves Adelaide.
Praise for Her Majesty's Pleasure:
'Her Majesty's Pleasure is much more than a pleasure - it's a banquet of riches. Handsomely produced by Wakefield it comes with an extensive index.' - Peter Pinne,
Theatre Heritage Australia
Frank Van Straten's (seen here with Barry Humphries) interest in the performing arts started when he was still at school. Over the years he has amassed a vast collection of Australian theatre memorabilia. He was the first archivist of Arts Centre Melbourne's Performing Arts Museum, and its director from 1984 until 1993.
For fifteen years Frank researched and presented ABC Radio's
Nostalgia Show. His audio documentary
The Sound of Melbourne, celebrating the 75th anniversary of 774/3LO, was a best-selling CD and won a Victorian Community History Award. He has conducted hundreds of oral history interviews with members of the performing arts community.
Frank provides historical articles for theatre programs and journals, including the quarterly magazine
On Stage. His books include
National Treasure: The Story of Gertrude Johnson and the National Theatre (1994),
The Regent Theatre: Melbourne's Palace of Dreams (1996),
Tivoli (2003),
Huge Deal: The Fortunes and Follies of Hugh D. McIntosh (2004) and
Florence Young and the Golden Years of Australian Musical Theatre (2009).
Frank is a patron of the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society and was a member of the Board of the National Theatre. He is a founding member of Theatre Heritage Australia, and has served on the judging panels of the Green Room and Helpmann Awards. He was historical consultant for Graeme Murphy's spectacular 2001 'dance musical'
Tivoli and for a documentary on the 125-year history of Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne. In 2007 he was appointed Live Performance Australia's Official Historian and researched and wrote LPA's on-line Hall of Fame. He was also involved in the recent Studio series
Raising the Curtain.
In 1999 Frank Van Straten was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of his services to the performing arts.
