This silk programme was printed for the Grand Opening Night of the Empire Variety Theatre Newcastle, 1 December 1890, although the date is not printed on the programme. This was the first theatre built by Horace Edward Moss and Richard Thornton and was one of the earliest of the chain of Moss Empires Variety Theatres that opened around the country between 1890 and 1912 when Moss died. There were 13 items of entertainment on offer for the opening of the Newscastle Empire starting with an Overture from Maritana by Wallace, followed by Miss Louise de Leau, The Charming and Accomplished Balladist; Professor Thornbury, Lightning Chromographist, Mimic and Ventriloquist; Miss Agnes Hazel, Serio-Comedienne; Edgar Wilson, The Eminent Baritone Vocalist; The Haytors, Anglo-American Grotesques; Mdlle. Aimee Desiree in her original entertainment Mystia; G.W. Hunter, The Popular Comic Vocalist and Dancer; Don Juan a Caceido, The Marvel of Columbia - The Wire King; Peggy Pryde, England's Greatest Characteristic Vocalist and Dancer; Major Newell, The Skatorial Phenomenon; Sisters Cavendish, Duettists and Dancers and Pat Cashan, Irish Comedian. The programme also list the acts for the following week which included Joseph Darby, Celebrated Jumper; T. .Barrett, The Nobleman's Son; James Taylor and Ada Alexander's Company, and Michael Nolan, Sells and Young etc.