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Kōrero: Theatre companies and producers

Poster advertising Mrs W. H. Foley, 1858

Poster advertising Mrs W. H. Foley, 1858

Although her first name is now unknown, Mrs W. H. Foley, the wife of US-born circus proprietor William Foley, was a star of New Zealand theatre from 1855 to 1867. Her husband imported a small group of Sydney professional actors to perform with her, and built a theatre for them in Auckland. This 1858 poster, printed on calico, announces one of her performances in Lyttelton. The extra emphasis given to her name wherever it appears on the poster indicates her fame and audience-drawing power.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Canterbury Museum, Canterbury Pilgrims and Early Settlers' Association Collection

Reference: 1949.148.8

Permission of Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Mark Derby, Theatre companies and producers – Early theatre companies, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/object/43392/poster-advertising-mrs-w-h-foley-1858 (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Mark Derby, i tāngia i te 25 November 2013.

Comments

Kate Lyons
14 June 2020
Mrs W H Foley was born Catherine Higgins, her first marriage was to Daniel Caparn and her second to William Henry Foley. There is more information about Catherine Higgins if anyone would like to know.) William and his second wife, Maria had two children. John William Driscoll Foley was born in Lonsdale Street East, Melbourne on the 12th July 1860. On the birth certificate his father William Foley is described as an equestrian performer, aged 34, and his mother, as “Maria” Foley, formerly “O’Neill” (should be O’Neil), aged 21. For a number of years from the mid 1860s and through the 1870s, John and his sister Kate toured Australia and New Zealand with their father as part of the Magnet Troupe. Like his father, John Foley was also an entertainer, although less seems to have been recorded about his performances. John married Laura Bloom - They were my great grandparents. Kate Lyons (Foley)