The London Stage Database team will be retiring the Legacy Search on May 1, 2025. Please take a moment before that date to reproduce any pre-2021 searches and export any resulting datasets you may wish to preserve for future use. We are making this change in order to free up computational resources for new features and data, currently in development with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Watch this space for more updates and, coming soon, new ways to keep up with the latest project developments!
SELECT * FROM london_stages WHERE MATCH('(@(authnameclean,perftitleclean,commentcclean,commentpclean) "Robert Benson"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "Robert Benson")') GROUP BY eventid ORDER BY weight() desc, eventdate asc OPTION field_weights=(perftitleclean=100, commentpclean=75, commentcclean=75, roleclean=100, performerclean=100, authnameclean=100), ranker=sph04

Result Options

Download:
JSON XML CSV

Search Filters

Event

Date Range
Start
End

Performance

?
Filter by Performance Type










Cast

?

Keyword

?
We found 1741 matches on Performance Comments, 924 matches on Author, 337 matches on Event Comments, 101 matches on Performance Title, and 0 matches on Roles/Actors.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Suspicious Husband

Performance Comment: Ranger-Palmer; Frankly-Wroughton; Bellamy-Barrymore; Jack Meggot-R. Palmer; Tester-Burton; Buckle-Benson; Ranger's Servant-Phillimore; Mr Strictland-Bensley; Jacintha-Mrs Goodall; Mrs Strictland-Mrs Kemble; Lucetta-Miss Tidswell; Clarinda-Miss Farren.
Cast
Role: Buckle Actor: Benson

Afterpiece Title: The Critic

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Country Girl

Afterpiece Title: Robinson Crusoe; or, Harlequin Friday

Performance Comment: Principal Characters-Banks, Bourk, Suett, Williames, Spencer, Phillimore, Fawcett, Fairbrother, Wilson, Jones, Benson, Alfred, Lyons, Cox, Hollingsworth, Mrs Booth, Miss Stageldoir. [For parts, and a brief synopsis of the action, see dl, 26 Dec. 1796].For parts, and a brief synopsis of the action, see dl, 26 Dec. 1796].

Dance: Afterpiece: Conclude with Dance-Hamoir, Miss Blanchet. [This was danced, as here assigned, in all subsequent performances.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: She Wou'd And She Wou'd Not

Cast
Role: Alguazile Actor: Benson

Afterpiece Title: The Devil to Pay

Performance Comment: As17881217, but Conjurer-Benson.
Cast
Role: Conjurer Actor: Benson.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Mourning Bride

Performance Comment: Osmyn-Kemble; Gonzalez-Packer; Garcia-Barrymore; Heli-Benson; Selim-Fawcett; Alonzo-Phillimore; Perez-Wilson; The King-Aickin; Almeria-Mrs Ward; Leonora-Miss Tidswell; Zara-Mrs Siddons.
Cast
Role: Heli Actor: Benson

Afterpiece Title: The Deserter

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Beggar's Opera

Performance Comment: Captain Macheath-Kelly (1st appearance in that character); Peachum-Moody; Filch-Suett; Lockit-Fawcett; Mat o' th' Mint-Williames; Ben Budge-Burton; Player-Benson; Lucy-Mrs Wilson; Mrs Peachum-Mrs Hopkins; Diana Trapes-Mrs Love; Polly-Mrs Crouch.
Cast
Role: Player Actor: Benson

Dance: In III: Hornpipe-Keen. [This was danced, as here assigned, in all subsequent performances.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Henry The Eighth

Cast
Role: Surveyor Actor: Benson

Afterpiece Title: Katharine and Petruchio

Performance Comment: Petruchio-Kemble; Grumio-Baddeley; Baptista-Packer; Biondello-R. Palmer; Taylor-Burton; Music Master-Fawcett; Pedro-Phillimore; Hortensio-Benson; Bianca-Miss Tidswell; Curtis-Mrs Love; Katharine-Mrs Siddons.
Cast
Role: Hortensio Actor: Benson

Song: As17881220

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Henry The Eighth

Performance Comment: As17881125, but Lord Chamberlain-Benson; Cromwell-R. Palmer; Cardinal Wolsey-Kemble; Surveyor-_.
Cast
Role: Lord Chamberlain Actor: Benson
Role: Surveyor Actor: Benson

Afterpiece Title: The Critic

Song: As17881220

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Coriolanus; Or, The Roman Matron

Performance Comment: Caius Marcius Coriolanus-Kemble; Menenius-Baddeley; Cominius-Aickin; Tribunes-Barrymore, Whitfield; Citizens-Suett, Burton, Fawcett, Jones; Officers-Phillimore, Benson; Volusius-Williames; Tullus Aufidius-Wroughton; Virgilia-Mrs Farmer; Valeria-Mrs Ward; The Roman Matron [i.e. Volumnia]-Mrs Siddons; Edition of 1789 (J. Christie) adds: Young Marcius-Master Grimaldi; Gentlewoman-Miss Tidswell.
Cast
Role: Officers Actor: Phillimore, Benson

Afterpiece Title: The Waterman

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Regent

Performance Comment: Manuel-Kemble; Solerno-Aickin; Ansaldo-Barrymore; Gerbin-Packer; Diego-Burton; Pedro-Benson; Officer-Wilson; Banditti-Phillimore, Chaplin, Alfred; Carlos-Master Gregson; Gomez-Wroughton; Paula-Mrs Ward; Dianora-Mrs Siddons.
Cast
Role: Pedro Actor: Benson

Afterpiece Title: The Deserter

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Heiress

Afterpiece Title: Don Juan; or, The Libertine Destroyed

Performance Comment: Don Juan-Palmer; Commandant-Phillimore; Don Fernando (with a song)-Dignum; Don Alonzo-Benson; Don Carlos-Fawcett; Pedrillo-Banks; Fisherman-Fairbrother; Alguaziles-Jones, Cox, Alfred; Sailor (with a song)-Sedgwick; Landlord-Chaplin; Waiter-Lyons; Scaramouch-Follett Jun. (1st appearance on that stage); Spanish Lady-Miss Romanzini; Attendants-Mrs Shaw, Mrs Heard; Fisherwomen-Mrs Edwards, Miss Romanzini [i.e. doubled Spanish Lady]; Donna Anna-Miss Collins.
Cast
Role: Don Alonzo Actor: Benson

Dance: In Afterpiece: a Fandango-Miss DeCamp; Dances-Hamoir, Bourk, Miss Blanchet, Miss Stageldoir; conclude with: Dance of Furies-; Shower of Fire-

Entertainment: Monologue Preceding: The Lecture on Heads (for this night only)-Palmer

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Country Girl

Afterpiece Title: The Padlock

Performance Comment: Leander-Kelly (1st appearance in that character); Don Diego-Williames; Scholars-Phillimore, Benson; Mungo-Suett; Ursula-Mrs Love; Leonora-Mrs Crouch.
Cast
Role: Scholars Actor: Phillimore, Benson

Dance: End: The Irish Bird@Catchers, as17890519

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Inkle And Yarico

Performance Comment: Inkle (with new songs by Dr Arnold)-Kelly; Sir Christopher Curry (1st time)-Aickin; Medium-Baddeley; Campley (1st time)-Dignum; Mate-Sedgwick; Sailors-Alfred, Cox; Planters-Burton, Phillimore, Benson; Trudge (1st time)-Bannister Jun.; Narcissa-Miss Hagley (pupil of Linley? Sen; 1st appearance on any stage [i.e. in a speaking part]); Wouskey (1st time)-Miss Romanzini; Patty-Mrs Edwards; Yarico (1st time)-Mrs Crouch.
Cast
Role: Planters Actor: Burton, Phillimore, Benson

Afterpiece Title: The Divorce

Song: End: Poor Jack!; or, the Sweet Little Cherub (written and composed by Dibdin)-Dignum; After: Glee on the Happy Recovery of His Majesty (the words by Col. Arabin)-Dignum, Sedgwick, Mrs Edwards, Miss Romanzini

Performances

Mainpiece Title: She Wou'd And She Wou'd Not

Performance Comment: Don Manuel-Waldron; Don Philip-Wroughton; Don Octavio-Barrymore; Soto-Fawcett; Diego-Burton; Don Lewis-Benson; Corrigidore-Alfred; Alguazile-Chaplin; Trappanti-Suett; Viletta-Mrs Hedges; Flora-Mrs Goodall; Rosara-Miss Collins; Hippolita-Mrs Wilson.
Cast
Role: Don Lewis Actor: Benson

Afterpiece Title: The Gentle Shepherd

Dance: End I afterpiece: Highland Reel, as17890527

Song: End II: Poor Jack!, as17890528

Entertainment: Monologue. As17890527

Performances

Mainpiece Title: As You Like It

Performance Comment: Touchstone-Palmer; Orlando-Whitfield; Amiens (with songs)-Johnstone (of cg); Duke Senior-Aickin; Adam-Moody; Oliver-Benson; Duke Frederick-Chaplin; William-Burton; Le Beu-R. Palmer; Jaques de Bois-Lyons; Charles-Alfred; Jaques-Wroughton; Caelia-Miss Collins; Audrey-Mrs Love; Phoebe-Miss Barnes; Rosalind-Mrs Jordan; the Cuckoo Song-Mrs Jordan.
Cast
Role: Oliver Actor: Benson

Afterpiece Title: The Devil to Pay

Performance Comment: Sir John Loverule-Johnstone; Butler-Lyons; Conjurer-Benson; Cook-Jones; Coachman-Alfred; Footman-Chaplin; Jobson-Moody; Lady Loverule-Mrs Shaw; Lucy-Miss Davis; Lettice-Miss Barnes; Nell-Mrs Jordan.
Cast
Role: Conjurer Actor: Benson

Dance: End I: The Russian Minuet, as17890519

Song: V: song-Miss Barnes

Entertainment: Monologue. End: A Picture of a Play@house or Bucks have at ye all-Palmer

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Beggar's Opera

Performance Comment: Captain Macheath-Kelly; Filch-Suett; Lockit-Fawcett; Mat o' th' Mint-Williames; Ben Budge-Burton; Beggar-Maddocks; Player-Benson; Peachum-Moody; Lucy (1st time)-Mrs Edwards; Mrs Peachum-Mrs Hopkins; Diana Trapes-Mrs Booth; Jenny Diver-Miss Barnes; Polly-Mrs Crouch; Edition of 1791 (John Bell) adds: Jemmy Twitcher-Webb; Crook@finger'd Jack-Lyons; Wat Dreary-Alfred; Robin of Bagshot-Haymes; Nimming Ned-Chapman; Harry Paddington-Phillimore; Mrs Coaxer-Mrs Fox; Dolly Trull-Mrs Davies; Betty Doxey-Mrs Shaw; Mrs Slammekin-Miss Tidswell; Sukey Tawdry-Mrs Heard; Molly Brazen-Mrs Butler.
Cast
Role: Player Actor: Benson

Afterpiece Title: Harlequin's Invasion

Dance: III: Hornpipe-Keen

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Heiress

Afterpiece Title: Comus

Performance Comment: Comus-Wroughton; Bacchanals-Kelly, Dignum, Sedgwick; Spirit-Lamash; Brothers-Benson, Banks; The Lady-Mrs Ward; Pastoral Nymph (1st time)-Miss Hagley; Sabrina-Miss Romanzini; Principal Bacchant-Mrs Edwards; Bacchants-Mrs Fox, Miss Barnes, Mrs Shaw; Euphrosyne-Mrs Crouch; Sweet Echo-Mrs Crouch; accompanied-Forster.
Cast
Role: Brothers Actor: Benson, Banks

Song: II: song in character-Mrs Crouch

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Henry The Fifth; Or, The Conquest Of France

Performance Comment: English: King Henry-Kemble; Exeter-Aickin; Westmorland-R. Palmer; Duke of Bedford-Dignum; Duke of Gloucester-Benson; Pistol-Suett; Erpingham-Waldron; Bardolph-Alfred; Williams-Whitfield; Nym-Burton; Gower-Williames; Archbishop of Canterbury-Maddocks; Ely-Jones; Grey-Lamash; Scroop-Wilson; Cambridge-Webb; Bates-Banks; Boy-Master Gregson; Fluellen-Baddeley; Hostess-Mrs Booth; French: King-Packer; Duke of Burgundy-Phillimore; Constable-Fawcett; Montjoy-Haymes; Governor-Hollingsworth; Dauphin-Barrymore; Princess Catharine-Miss Collins; Queen of France-Mrs Ward.
Cast
Role: Duke of Gloucester Actor: Benson

Afterpiece Title: The Virgin Unmask'd

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Oroonoko; Or, The Royal Slave

Performance Comment: Oroonoko-A Young Gentleman (who never appeared on any stage [Keating]); Blandford-Barrymore; Governor-Whitfield; Stanmore-R. Palmer; Captain Driver-Maddocks; Hotman-Williames; Jack Stanmore-Benson; Daniel-Suett; 1st Planter-Fawcett; 2nd Planter-Hollingsworth; 3rd Planter-Wilson; 4th Planter-Jones; Slaves-Phillimore, Banks, Alfred, Webb; Aboan-Bensley; Widow Lackit-Mrs Hopkins; Charlotte Weldon-Mrs Goodall; Lucy Weldon-Miss Collins; Imoinda-Mrs Powell.
Cast
Role: Jack Stanmore Actor: Benson

Afterpiece Title: The Humourist

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Inkle And Yarico

Performance Comment: Inkle (with new songs by Dr Arnold)-Kelly; Sir Christopher Curry-Aickin; Medium-Baddeley; Campley-Dignum; Mate-Williames; Planters-Burton, Phillimore, Benson; Trudge-Bannister Jun.; Narcissa-Miss Hagley; Wowski-Miss Romanzini; Patty-Mrs Edwards; Yarico-Mrs Crouch.
Cast
Role: Planters Actor: Burton, Phillimore, Benson

Afterpiece Title: Who's the Dupe

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Haunted Tower

Performance Comment: [Characters-Kelly, Baddeley, Moody, Suett, Dignum, Sedgwick, Whitfield, Williames, Bannister Jun.; Sga Storace (1st appearance on the English stage i.e. in a speaking part]), Miss Romanzini, Mrs Booth, Mrs Crouch. [Cast from Songs (J. Jarvis, 1789): Lord William-Kelly; Baron of Oakland-Baddeley; Hugo-Moody; Lewis-Suett; Robert-Dignum; Charles-Sedgwick; De Courcy-Whitfield; Martin-Williames; Edward-Bannister Jun.; Hubert-Webb; Servant-Lyons; Adela-Sga Storace; Cicely-Miss Romanzini; Maud-Mrs Booth; Lady Elinor-Mrs Crouch.
Cast
Role: Robert Actor: Dignum

Afterpiece Title: The Miller of Mansfield

Performance Comment: The King-Whitfield; Richard-R. Palmer; Joe (with a song)-Williames; Lord Lurewell-Benson; The Miller-Moody; Kate-Mrs Wilson; Peggy-Miss Collins; Margery-Mrs Hopkins [Public Advertiser: Mrs Booth].Public Advertiser: Mrs Booth].
Cast
Role: Lord Lurewell Actor: Benson
Related Works
Related Work: The King and the Miller of Mansfield Author(s): Robert Dodsley

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Haunted Tower

Cast
Role: Robert Actor: Dignum

Afterpiece Title: The Apprentice

Performance Comment: Dick-Bannister Jun.; Gargle-Fawcett; Simon-Suett; Watchman-Alfred; Porter-Wilson; Spouters-Benson, Phillimore, Banks, Haymes; Wingate-Hollingsworth; Charlotte-Miss Collins.
Cast
Role: Spouters Actor: Benson, Phillimore, Banks, Haymes

Dance: As17891204

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Henry The Fifth

Performance Comment: As17891001, but Scroop-Lyons; Dauphin-Benson; Duke of Gloucester-_.
Cast
Role: Dauphin Actor: Benson
Role: Duke of Gloucester Actor: Benson

Afterpiece Title: Harlequin's Frolicks

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Two Gentlemen Of Verona

Performance Comment: Protheus-Wroughton; Valentine-Barrymore; Duke-Aickin; Lord Thurio-Suett; Sir Eglamour-Benson; Antonio-Maddocks; Host-Fawcett; Panthion [sic]-Haymes; Speed-Bannister Jun.; Launce-Dodd; Sylvia-Mrs Kemble; Lucetta-Mrs Wilson; Julia-Mrs Goodall.
Cast
Role: Sir Eglamour Actor: Benson

Afterpiece Title: The Island of St

Song: In IV: a Serenade-Dignum

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Haunted Tower

Performance Comment: As17891124, but Charles-Benson in place of Sedgwick.
Cast
Role: Charles Actor: Benson in place of Sedgwick.
Role: Robert Actor: Dignum

Afterpiece Title: The Deaf Lover

Cast
Role: Robert Actor: Burton

Dance: II: As17891204; End: The Irish Bird Catchers-the young D'Egvilles, Miss Blanchet, Miss DeCamp

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Haunted Tower

Cast
Role: Robert Actor: Dignum

Afterpiece Title: The Deaf Lover

Performance Comment: As17900119, but Canteen-Benson.
Cast
Role: Canteen Actor: Benson.
Role: Robert Actor: Burton

Dance: As17900123