Silk and satin theatre programmes were frequently produced in the 18th and 19th centuries to commemorate special theatrical and musical events, the less expensive ones with integral fringing made from fraying cut edges, and the more expensive with separately applied silk or metallic fringes. This programme was produced for the Lyceum Theatre, for the evening of 22nd January 1870, the first production in England of Hervé's opera bouffé <i>Chilpéric</i>, adapted into English, with Hervé himself in the title role as the King of the Gauls. Hervé had played the role in the original production in Paris in 1868. The opera boasted scenery by the respected scenic designers Grieve and Son, and an address delivered at the beginning of the evening by the actress Mary Ann Keeley (1805-1899) reminiscing on her long association with the Lyceum Theatre and celebrating unapologetically that a French opera was to be produced, with Hervé himself in the cast. Mrs. Keeley was brought out of retirement for the address, having retired from the stage in 1859, when she played Hector in <i>The Siege of Troy</i> at the Lyceum.
The silk programme was produced and perfumed by the French perfumier Eugène Rimmel from his printing works in the Strand, then the hub of London's theatre district. The paper programme that was produced for the rest of the house was also perfumed by him, and had an advertisement for the range of his perfumed products on the back page.