*p1778 06 26 chr King Richard III. King Richard-Stokes; King Henry-Newton; Prince Edward-A Young Gentleman (1st appearance on any stage [unidentified]); Buckingham-Russell; Duke of York-Master Nelson; Stanley-Lear; Tressel-Cooke; Lieutenant of the Tower-Burnett; Catesby-Massey; Lord Mayor-Fildew; Blunt-Bailey; Earl of Richmond-West; Lady Ann-Mrs Bailey; Duchess of York-Mrs Newby; Queen-Mrs Russell.*a1778 06 26 chr The Ghost. ^As17780619^.*d1778 06 26 chr ^As17780601^.*s1778 06 26 chr ^As17780529^.*c1778 06 26 chr [This was the last performance ever held in this theatre. On 27 June the <i>Morning Chronicle</i> published the playbill for that same evening: <i>Love in a Village</i> and <i>Comical Courtship</i>, but on 29 June the same newspaper reported that on "Friday [26 June] (soon after the performances of the evening were finished at <i>China Hall</i>, <i>Rotherhithe</i>) the theatre was discovered to be on fire. The flames increased so rapidly that in a short time the whole building, with all the scenes, stage, cloaths, &c. were consumed...There is no doubt but the theatre was wilfully set on fire." During the course of the summer it was rebuilt, but "Yesterday morning the play-house at China-hall, Rotherhithe, was blown down by the violence of the wind. The said play-house was burnt down last summer, but it being insured was rebuilt by contract, and the tiling of it completely finished last week" (<i>Gazetteer</i>, 26 Nov. 1778). And see 30 July.]