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221:, and a variety of entertainment, including music (of all genres), comedy, dance, music-hall and speciality acts were included. The monarch or a senior member of the British Royal attends the event each year, and the event continues as a fundraiser for the Royal Variety Charity. The Royal Variety Performance attracts over 150 million worldwide television viewers annually.
507:, once a year thereafter. This tradition and fundraising event for the Royal Variety Charity, continues to the present day, with the Royal Variety Performance now attracting over 150 million worldwide television viewers, making it the longest running and most successful entertainment show in the world.
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that the show should 'clearly reflect all areas of show business popular amongst the masses of the time'. Hence, a variety of entertainment, including music (of all genres), comedy, dance, music-hall and speciality acts, rather than for it be incorrectly perceived as one reflecting the Royal Family's
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As long as there has been a monarchy, kings and queens have maintained minstrels and jesters to entertain their courts, and these performances could be called "command performances". The history of the command performance as we recognise it today dates back at least to the time of Queen
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King George V became patron of the Royal
Variety Charity in 1921 and decreed that the monarch or a senior member of the British Royal family would attend an annual event in aid of the Royal Variety Charity and its care home for elderly entertainers,
420:, requested permission to show the film to the general public the Prince asked to see it himself before agreeing. The film was screened before forty royal guests in a specially erected marquee along with a collection of other short films.
461:. The proceeds from this event were used to found the 'King George's Pension Fund for Actors and Actresses'. A second Royal Command Performance was held on 1 July 1912, featuring many of the leading stars of the theatre and
296:'s reign in 1837 the command performance was an established part of Britain's theatrical life. The first Royal Command Performance as it is known today is generally accepted to have been that staged at
234:, during whose reign the first permanent theatre was built. In addition, Elizabeth built her own theatre where she could watch plays performed by her own company of players. This was formed in 1583 by
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monarchs continued the tradition of sponsoring their own theatrical companies until the dissolution of the monarchy, with its subsequent abolition of the theatre, during the
Protectorship of
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Although
English monarchs have long sponsored their own theatrical companies and commissioned theatrical performances, the first Royal Command Performance to bear that name was staged at
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in 1861. There were no further command performances until they recommenced in 1881. These included plays, revues, comic operas and other musical theatre.
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of the monarchy following the death of
Cromwell also resulted in the restoration of the relationship between the monarch and theatre.
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in aid of the
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There were no further command performances until they recommenced on 4 October 1881 with a production of
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is any performance by actors or musicians that occurs at the direction or request of a reigning
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performed for the Queen in 1889 and 1893. In 1891, the Queen enjoyed two performances by the
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On 27 June 1911 a Great 'Gala' performance was given by the theatrical profession at
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In 1911 a Great "Gala" performance was given by the theatrical profession at
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On 21 July 1896 the first Royal
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on 27 June 1913 and raised £1,093. These events are now called
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on 28 December 1848 by order of Queen
Victoria. The play was
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were given on several occasions in the 1890s for
Victoria.
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attended an all-star Royal
Command Performance at London's
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called for several performances per year. These included
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First "Royal
Command" Performance Before King Edward VII
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335:. Queen Victoria called for a command performance of
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195:called for several performances each year.
651:"History of the Royal Variety Performance"
550:A History of the Royal Command Performance
679:"Royal Variety Performance Official site"
490:1919 saw the first event to be named the
430:by the company of husband and wife stars
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595:"Royal Variety Charity official website"
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206:. In 1912, George V and
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342:Sweethearts
332:The Colonel
238:, the then
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727:Categories
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414:Birt Acres
382:The Mikado
355:Mrs Kendal
208:Queen Mary
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31:. For the
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