Throughout the late 1800s and a lot of the 1900s, there was one name on most of the posters of shows that made it big in Australia: JC Williamson.

JC Williamson Ltd was one of the biggest production companies of our history, and it was started by a man called James Cassius Williamson.

This episode looks at the life and legacy of JC Williamson’s, and one of the biggest touring stars they brought to Australia - ballerina Anna Pavlova.

And yes, we can’t talk Pavlova without getting deep into meringue choices and whipped cream.

Links:

National Library of Australia On Stage Exhibition

JC Williamson Collection at the National Library of Australia

Anna Pavlova’s Tours at the National Library of Australia

Guests:

Dr Robert Reid, Theatre Historian

Annabelle Utrecht, Meringetrix and Food Researcher

Credits:

Melanie Tait - writer, producer and presenter of Off Stage

Kim Lester - technical producer and sound engineer of Off Stage