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Theatre Royal Haymarket
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Theatre History - 1/3
Built by John Potter, a carpenter, on the site of the King's Head Inn and the Gun Smith shop. December 29th opening night La Fille a la Mode, presented by His Grace The Duke of Montagu.
Still without license. Aaron Hill actor/manager produces Henry V.
Hurlothrumbo ran 30 nights, the theatre's first major success.
Henry Fielding, novelist and dramatist produces, opening with a burlesque, Tom Thumb, the first of seven pieces.
Theophilus Cibber took charge presenting The Comedians of His Majesty's Revels, the actors who had revolted against the Drury Lane management.
Henry Fielding's play The Historical Register causes the Lord Chamberlain to introduce the censorship of plays, after the audacious caricaturing of Sir Robert Walpole the Prime Minister.
Under George II the Licensing Act came into effect. British citizens flooded the theatre to voice their grievance, causing the Riot Act to be enforced by British Grenadiers and leading to the closure of the theatre.
Charles Macklin, Theophilus Cibber and Samuel Foote produced, by subterfuge, plays, music, magic and exhibitions by invitation to partake of tea, chocolate, bottled porter, cider spruce and ginger beer with gratis entertainment.
John Potter dies and Samuel Foote, writer/actor of pungent satires, takes over the lease.
Cibber obtained a general licence with the aid of the Duke of York, allowing four month of plays during May to September for his lifetime.
Foote, the subject of a crude jest, loses his leg in a Royal hunting party accident. To make amends the Duke of York secured a warrant and patent from his brother, King George III.
Foote transfers his interest to George Colman the elder, after a public scandal which subsequently caused his death in 1777.
Twenty persons lost their lives and a great number were injured owing to a vast crowd pressing to see His Majesty who was attending the evening performance.
George Coleman Junior presents leading actors Charles Kemble, John Liston, J. Bannister, R.W. Elliston and Charles Matthews the Elder.
The Tailors, a revival of Samuel Foote's play, caused the city tailors to barrack the performance and troops were called in to disperse them.
David Morris gains control since Colman was trying to manage the theatre from the King's bench prison, where he was confined for debt.
The old Playhouse was closed and a new theatre erected a little to the south, gaining a vista from St. James' Square. Designed by Court architect John Nash during the remodelling of Regents Park and Regents Street.
The new theatre opens with The Rivals under a 99 year lease from the Crown, costing £356.9s.d.
Benjamin Webster becomes lessee, introducing in 1843 the use of gaslight, a brilliant centre chandelier (the last conversion from oil and candle), and the creation of an orchestra pit.
John Baldwin Buckstone becomes the new light of the Theatre Royal. 200 productions with scarcely one failure and many unusual successes. His life was the theatre, and he is still a resident haunting the leading ladies and staff to this present day.
400 nights of Our American Cousin with Edward Southern as Lord Dundreary adds a new word, ‘dreary', to the dictionary. Buckstone clears over £30,000.00 profit.
Ellen Terry, aged fifteen, took the part of Britannia in a panorama of the Prince of Wales in the East. Buckstone was Queen Victoria's favourite theatre manager and a close friend.
A new concept - matinees and morning performances were introduced.
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