Tyne Theatre & Opera House searches for descendants of Victorian staff

The discovery of an old photograph has prompted Tyne Theatre & Opera House’s search for the descendants of its Victorian staff.

Found in the copy of the Evening Chronicle in 1937, the picture shows a group of fly staff standing outside the stage door in 1901.

Fly staff are tasked with operating the equipmment to change the scenery- an incredibly physical role.

The Tyne Theatre & Opera House is in the process of restoring the wooden stage machinery used at that time, which is why there are now searching for the men that once operated it as part of a heritage project.

The men in the photo are (top row, left to right) John Denton, Wm. Maitland, W. Smith, T. Murray, T. Brumwell, J. Diamond, (bottom row, left to right) Jim Baker, T. Collins, R. Kelso, J. Younger, J. McEwan, and seated in the centre is Jim Preston, the master flyman.

The Theatre is also on the hunt for descendants of the man who was in charge of stage machinary during the late 1800s.

Frederick William Humpherys was born in Somerset but moved to Newcastle with his two children and wife Annie Walkinshaw. He had a further four children all born in Newcastle.

Humpherys first appears in the programmes in September 1884 alongside his father Davenant Humpherys who appears as prop manager.

If you recognise any of these men, or know them to be your ancestor, please get in contact with project administrator Rachel Snape at [email protected]