“Tickets Please”: Fast Tracks for The Flying Matinée

The flying matinée was a regular feature of the British theatrical scene from the 1880s. Made possible by the railway network and particularly the introduction of dining cars on trains, the practice originally involved London dramatic companies travelling out from the capital in the morning, giving a performance in another city or town in the afternoon and then returning in time to give the evening show at their London base. Despite the fact that flying matinées were widely adopted by eminent actor-managers such as Herbert Beerbohm Tree, George Alexander and Charles Wyndham, the phenomenon has been virtually ignored in theatre histories. In this article I examine the development of such visiting performances and analyse the personal, financial and reputational repercussions for audiences, performers, managers and the wider theatrical industry. Particular attention is paid to a newspaper debate of 1896 that aired the arguments of supporters of the system as well as the fears of pecuniary disadvantage held by some within the profession, especially those in regular touring companies. In recovering the phenomenon, I argue flying matinées played a significant part in maintaining the interconnectivity of West End and regional theatres and in the circulation of dramatic works, performers and production values.