 George Edwardes noticed the versatile Tanner and hired him as a director and "show doctor" at the Gaiety.He first directed "The Baroness" for Edwardes, then directed and conceived the innovative musical play "In Town" (1892), which would help set the fashion for the Gaiety Theatre shows that were to follow.He provided the outline on which Owen Hall would write the book for "A Gaiety Girl" (1893).