Drake,a history play by Louis N. Parker (1852-1944) was first staged by Herbert Beerbohm Tree at His Majesty's Theatre, London, on 3 September 1912, with Lyn Harding, and later Frederick Ross, as Drake. It proved a success, running for 221 performances, and was revived on 19 August 1914 for a further 101 performances, this time with Tree in the leading role. The day after rehearsals began, the Daily Mail (3 July 1912) reported:
'Drake promises to be a mighty galleon. It tells a stirring tale of the spacious days when England, hard pressed, was saved by her sailors and her ships. Into nine vivid scenes, quick moving and gay of colour, Mr. Parker has aimed at compressing the spirit of the Elizabethan age. He shows the brewing of the quarrel between Spain and England. He spices his story with adventure, with bold privateering, with the magic of the Spanish Main.'
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Buchel's painting depicts the moment when, after plundering Spanish ships, Drake's ship The Golden Hind returns to Deptford Quay. Drake and his wife Elizabeth Sydenham, played by Amy Brandon-Thomas, are shown embracing on the ship's deck, watched by a crowd on the quayside.
The artist Charles Buchel (1872-1950), born Karl August Büchel in Mainz, Germany, came to England as a child and studied at the Royal Academy Schools. He first worked for Beerbohm Tree in 1898, beginning a 16-year working association during which he painting portraits of Tree in character, designing posters and providing illustrations for the souvenir booklets which accompanied many of Tree's productions. Buchel became well known in theatrical circles and painted portraits of many leading actors of the day.
This image by Charles Buchel was reproduced on a poster for a regional tour of the production, managed by the author George Dance (1857-1932). Dance sometimes leased tours of his own productions to other theatre managers, but also had several touring companies of his own. He became one of the most successful touring managers in the early years of the 20th century.
