Concert Party (entertainment)
Encyclopedia
A concert party, also called a Pierrot troupe, is the collective name for a group of entertainers, or Pierrots, popular in Britain
during the first half of the 20th century. The variety show
given by a Pierrot troupe was called a Pierrot show.
and black or coloured costumes who sang, danced, juggled, and joked on the piers of Brighton
, Margate
and Blackpool
from the 1890s until the 1950s. The style of performance attracted artists from music hall
and variety theatre. Some performers, such as Neville Kennard
, were known as specialists in the field.
Immensely popular in Great Britain from the 1920s to the 1940s, concert parties were also formed by several countries' armed forces
during the Second World War. During the Second World War, the British Armed Forces' concert party became known as the Entertainments National Service Association
(ENSA), later succeeded by the Combined Services Entertainment
(CSE).
As other forms of entertainment (particularly television
) replaced variety shows in general, concert parties largely died out during the 1950s. This form of entertainment has been described by Roy Hudd
as long-gone and much lamented.
The most famous fictitious concert party outside the armed forces was The Good Companions
in J.B. Priestley's eponymous novel.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during the first half of the 20th century. The variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
given by a Pierrot troupe was called a Pierrot show.
History
In 1891, the singer and banjoist Clifford Essex returned from France, having admired the Pierrots he had seen there, and decided to create a troupe of English Pierrot entertainers. Thus began the tradition of seaside Pierrots in pointed hatsPointed hat
Pointed hats have been a distinctive item of headgear of a wide range of cultures throughout history. Though often suggesting an ancient Indo-European tradition, they were also traditionally worn by women of Lapland, the Japanese, the Mi'kmaq people of Atlantic Canada, and the Huastecs of Veracruz...
and black or coloured costumes who sang, danced, juggled, and joked on the piers of Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, Margate
Margate
-Demography:As of the 2001 UK census, Margate had a population of 40,386.The ethnicity of the town was 97.1% white, 1.0% mixed race, 0.5% black, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% Chinese or other ethnicity....
and Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
from the 1890s until the 1950s. The style of performance attracted artists from music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
and variety theatre. Some performers, such as Neville Kennard
Neville Kennard
Neville Kennard was a twentieth century variety entertainer from England, most active in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. He was a prolific writer of sketches and was one of the most famous names associated with the concert party form of entertainment.-Early life:Neville Kennard, real name Lord Nevil...
, were known as specialists in the field.
Immensely popular in Great Britain from the 1920s to the 1940s, concert parties were also formed by several countries' armed forces
Armed forces
The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
during the Second World War. During the Second World War, the British Armed Forces' concert party became known as the Entertainments National Service Association
Entertainments National Service Association
The Entertainments National Service Association or ENSA was an organisation set up in 1939 by Basil Dean and Leslie Henson to provide entertainment for British armed forces personnel during World War II. ENSA operated as part of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes...
(ENSA), later succeeded by the Combined Services Entertainment
Combined Services Entertainment
The Combined Services Entertainment is the live entertainment arm of the Services Sound and Vision Corporation , a registered British charity. It is the official provider of live entertainment to the British Armed Forces. CSE routinely sends tours of entertainment to Afghanistan, Cyprus, Oman, the...
(CSE).
As other forms of entertainment (particularly television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
) replaced variety shows in general, concert parties largely died out during the 1950s. This form of entertainment has been described by Roy Hudd
Roy Hudd
Roy Hudd, OBE is an English comedian, actor, radio host and author, and an authority on the history of music hall entertainment.- Early life :...
as long-gone and much lamented.
The most famous fictitious concert party outside the armed forces was The Good Companions
The Good Companions
The Good Companions is a novel by the English author J. B. Priestley.Written in 1929 , it focuses on the trials and tribulations of a concert party in England between World War I and World War II. It is arguably Priestley's most famous novel, and the work which established him as a national figure...
in J.B. Priestley's eponymous novel.