Child Labour in the Australian Theatre 1890-1911

I wrote this some time ago and found a copy today.

Between 1890 and the early 20th Century, the employment of children on the stage was controversial. Regulations regarding employment gradually became stricter as the idea of childhood was developed and the importance of education increased.

Famous Child Performers



Many great Australian performers began their stage careers as children. Carrie Moore began as a 13 year old in pantomime, the Beatty sisters began with Pollard's Lilliputians and William Percy also started his long comedic career with that company. Child acts were also popular in vaudeville theatres, Fanny Powers was a huge hit with Tivoli patrons as a 7 year old.

Child stars played small but important roles in plays in pantomimes, however, the rights of the child as a worker were often ignored.

This changed as the 20th Century progressed and adult advocates began to question the use of children in theatrical entertainment.

Child Labour Laws.


However, by 1890, the law had tightened in many states. In Victoria, the law prohibited any child under the age of 10 working after 7 O Clock in winter and 9 O Clock in winter. This limited the use of children in theatrical entertainment. Two prominent entrepreneurs, J C Williamson and Alfred Dampier were fined for breaking this law.

Arguments about child labour.

The fines levied against the managers led to arguments abotu the practice of employing children in theatres. Proponents argued that theatre training improved diction, provided enjoyment and also provided more discipline that many children received at home.

Opponents, including the representatives of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty for Children argued that the theatre exposed children to undesirable elements of society and exploited their precociousness for the benefit of greedy managers.

The Pollard Scandal

The laws regarding child employment continued to develop after Federation and in line with community perceptions of childhood and education. In 1910 an event occurred which focussed the spotlight back onto the theatrical community.

A scandal erupted when a troupe of children, touring under the Pollard name, were stranded in India. The newspapers exploded with accusations of child abuse, the intervention of the Indian authorities in the matter was embarrassing  and the difficulty in returning the children to their parents  and the subsequent pitiful scenes of reunion, brought the matter of child employment in the theatres to the headlines.

More on the Lilliputian Scandal

Child Labour Legislation by 1911.

By 1911 the government of NSW had legislated to disallow any child under the age of 14 being employed on the stage. The premier of Victoria agreed in principle with this idea, stating that all children of that age should be in school.

Education was seen as more important as the century progressed and subsequent legislation gradually increased the school leaving age to reflect this.

The changing view of childhood and the increasing importance of education to a new society led to the development of harsher strictures for theatrical managers, but did not finish the exploitation of children on stage and screen. However it limited the opportunities for conniving managers and complemented the changing social attitude of the time.

Fanny Powers of the Tivoli

Fanny Powers was a popular child performer at the Tivoli Theatre in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.

She was born in 1890 near Leichhardt in Sydney to Maria and George Powers. Her parents must have been involved in the theatre because she was performing by the time she was 7.


Here she is as a child.

Fanny was an accomplished mimic and dancer and was well known for imitating the great stars who visited Australia. She was also very popular with Harry Rickards and his family, which included two daughters. 

In 1903 Rickards took her to England where she replaced Vesta Tilley at the Oxford Music Hall. She was too young to be paid because of child labour laws, so was given a 'present' every pay day.

Fanny was a popular favourite in Australia until 1912 when she gave up the stage to get married. An enormous benefit was performed for her farewell, and she never returned to the boards.

Above is Fanny as a young adult.

She married Mr William Foote, a South Australian businessman in 1913. He owned several racehorses and was some years older than Fanny.

The pair settled for a time in Manly NSW. During the early 1920s they lived in a beautiful sea side house with their three children, George, Arthur and Nancy.

In the mid 20s they moved to Adelaide.

William died aged 63 in 1937, and Fanny died the next year, around June 1938. There was little fanfare when she died but she was fondly remembered for decades as one of the fixtures of the Tivoli Circuit.

Stars of Efftee films

A wonderful reader kindly sent me some cigarette cards of Australian born actors. The cards are beautiful and date from the 1930s. Thanks Sarah!


They represent stars from Efftee films. Efftee film studios were apparently created in Melbourne in the early 1930s by Frank Thring. The name comes from his initials, FT.

A list of their films is here

Firstly we have  George Wallace. George was a stage comedian and film actor. His bio on the back of the card states;
Australian comedian, born Brisbane (q) aged 33 years. Comes of a theatrical family. Has toured his own revue companies. First film, 'His Royal Highness." (Efftee Films)

Cicely Coutneidge. Born Sydney NSW; age 39. Daughter of Robert Courtneidge famous actor-producer. Married Jack Hulbert. First film 'Elstree Calling'. Talking pictures, "The Ghost Train" , "Jack's the Boy", and "Happy Ever After".

Cicely, of course spent most of her life in England, she was born during one of her father's tours of Australia in 1893. She was an accomplished stage actor.

Cecil Scott. Born Bathurst NSW, 25 years old. Has appeared in Australia in musical comedy and revue. Specially selected to play the title role in Efftee Films 'The Sentimental Bloke."

Pat Hanna. Born Mercury Bay (NZ) Height 6ft 1 in. age 42. Lieut NZ Forces during the Great War. Formed 'Famous Diggers' company and toured world. Appeared at Royal command performances. First talking picture, 'Diggers' (efftee) and "Diggers in Blighty."

Ray Fisher. Aged 19. Born Melbourne. Began stage career a dancer. Specially selected by Mr F W Thring to play Doreen in Efftee' "The Sentimental Bloke."

Betty Stockfeld. Born Sydney (NSW) age 25. Was educated at Carisbrooke College Canterbury (Vic). First film "City of Song."Recreations; swimming and flying. Plays piano and ukelele. Clever linguist and has appeared in French films. Hobbies; gardening, travelling and reading.

Many stage actors turned to film during the early years of the talkies. In Sydney, the Prince Edward Theatre had a stage show as part of the film experience. The early 1930s were the era of the huge film palaces such as the Prince Edward and the State Theatre in Sydney. Unfortunately it was also the depression era and economic circumstances combined with  competition from the talkies, destroyed live theatre. In 1933 the great Her Majesty's Theatre in Sydney, which was located on the Centrepoint corner, closed down. The Criterion also closed in this period.

These cards, however, show no sign of terrible economic times and are a beautiful reminder of the elegance of the era. Thanks again to Sarah for her kindness.