Bruce Bairnsfather and Swansea: A 1920's Connection
Bruce Bairnsfather Bruce Bairnsfather and Swansea: A 1920's Connection Bairnsfather’s Visits to Swansea During the 1920's, the celebrated British humourist and cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfather made several visits to Swansea as part of a series of theatrical appearances that brought his famous wartime creation, Old Bill , to local audiences. In March 1923, the Grand Theatre placed a series of striking advertisements in the South Wales Daily Post for “Seymour Hicks Presents Old Bill, M.P. by Bruce Bairnsfather.” The show promised to “make you scream,” inviting audiences to see Old Bill “in civvies,” and assuring them they would laugh, cheer, and even cry. Its closing line — “’Ere, if yer know of a better show – go to it!” — perfectly captured the rough humour that had made the character a national favourite. Bruce Bairnsfather In June 1923 , the South Wales Daily Post further highlighted Bairnsfather’s growing celebrity by publishing a photograph of the artist , accompanying ...
