Cream silk playbill printed in black ink, faded, with a royal coat of arms above the name of the circus 'MESSRS W. & G. PINDERS' [sic] GREAT INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS' and the information that the circus is appearing: 'OPPOSITE THE RAILWAY STATION, SOUTH SHIELDS' on Tuesday 19th (no month given) under the patronage and in the presence of 'ROBERT INGHAM ESQ., MP.' The performers are listed as Mr Hicken, England's First-Rate Horseman; Mrs. Harvey; Mr. Mitchell, the Great Clown and Orator; Aaron Hassan, the Arabian; the Performing Ponies Alexandra and Jester . The programme also featured the entire company in the equestrian entertainment: The Rigs of Mr. Briggs; or, The Pleasures of Horse and House Keeping. At the bottom the time of opening is stated: 'Doors open at Seven - to commence half past. Price of Admission - Boxes 2s - Pit and Promenade 1s - Gallery - 6d. Half price to the Boxes only at a Quarter to Nine.' The playbill has 3 raw edges with one selvedge on the left edge. Silk and satin theatre playbills and programmes were produced from the 18th century onwards to commemorate special evenings at the theatre. Most theatres and some circuses in the 19th century had some made to mark grand openings or milestone performances. By the end of the First World War however the practice had generally died out, only being revived very occasionally, more often at London's opera houses than any other theatres. This silk commemorated the appearance of George and William Pinder's circus in South Shields in the presence of Robert Ingham, the Member of Parliament for South Shields from 1832 until 1841, and from 1852 until 1868. Pinders' Circus was founded in 1854 by the brothers William Pinder (1828-1916) and George Pinder (1830-1906) so this playbill was produced between 1854 and 1868 when the Pinders began touring in France and eventually settled there. The equestrian Mr. Hicken, described on this playbill as 'England's First-Rate Horseman' was probably the son of Mr Hicken who appeared with Ryan's Company of Equestrians in Manchester in 1836, and at Vauxhall Gardens in the late 1830s and early 1840s. The equestrian entertainment The Rigs of Mr. Briggs, or, The Pleasures of Horse and Housekeeping, also on this bill, was described as a 'Grand Spectacular Farce' when it was mounted in London at Sanger's Circus in February 1878. Silk playbill printed for Messrs. W & G. Pinder's Great International Circus. For a performance in South Shields, c.1860. Printed silk. Antony Hippisley Coxe Collection.