SELECT * FROM london_stages WHERE MATCH('(@(authnameclean,perftitleclean,commentcclean,commentpclean) "Shakespeare"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "Shakespeare")') 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 5841 matches on Author, 226 matches on Event Comments, 88 matches on Roles/Actors, 34 matches on Performance Title, and 29 matches on Performance Comments.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The British Roratory; Or, Mrs Midnight's New Carnival Concert

Performance Comment: As17540704 but (by Partacular Desire) The Owl by Shakespeare-.
Cast
Role: Shakespeare Actor: .

Dance: As17540718

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Macbeth

Performance Comment: Macbeth-Mills; Macduff-Wilks; Banquo-Booth; Lady Macbeth-Mrs Porter; Witches-Johnson, Norris, Griffin. [Hogan (Shakespeare in the Theatre, p. 277), thinks this bill is misprinted, with Hecate omitted and Johnson assigned Penkethman's usual part of the First Witch .]Hogan (Shakespeare in the Theatre, p. 277), thinks this bill is misprinted, with Hecate omitted and Johnson assigned Penkethman's usual part of the First Witch .]
Related Works
Related Work: Macbeth Author(s): William Shakespeare
Event Comment: As 9 Oct. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespeare. Afterpiece: Taken from Plautus and Shakespeare

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Othello, Moor Of Venice

Related Works
Related Work: Othello Author(s): William Shakespeare

Afterpiece Title: See If You Like It

Dance: As I Nov

Event Comment: With a Prologue on Shakespeare and his writings spoken by Garrick, and An Epilogue on Shakespeare's Women Characters spoken by Mrs Woffington-for the benefit of the author of the Prologue and Epilogue

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Merchant Of Venice

Related Works
Related Work: The Merchant of Venice Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: The Jew of Venice Author(s): William Shakespeare

Song: As17430120

Dance: As17430120

Event Comment: Benefit for Ross. Mr Ross did Romeo & spoke an Elogium upon Shakespear in ye form of ye Monument in the Abby (Cross). Last time of performing the mainpiece this season. Nothing under full prices. After the play an Elogium wrote by Dryden, concluding with Milton's Epitaph to the Memory of Shakespeare, spoken by Ross representing the Shade of Shakespeare as figured on his monument in Westminster Abbey. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Romeo And Juliet

Related Works
Related Work: Romeo and Juliet Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: The History and Fall of Caius Marius Author(s): William Shakespeare

Afterpiece Title: The Anatomist

Event Comment: In a Few Days will be publish'd at 1s. (as it is perform'd at Drury Lane) The Winter's Tale: A Dramatic Pastoral in three acts, from Shakespeare. With proper Music, Songs,Dances, and Decoration. Printed for J. and R. Tonson. This Day publish'd The Winter's Tale, a Play alter'd form Shakespeare, by C. Marsh: @Think'st thou, the Swan of Avon spreads her Wings,@Her brooding wings, for thee alone, to plume@And nestle there, O Garrick? Thou deserv'st@Indeed much cherishing; thy Melody@Charms every ear. But sure it ill beseems@One Cygnet thus to stretch its little pinions,@Ambitiously intent, to fill that nest,@Whose roomy limits well may shelter numbers.@ Printed for C. Marsh, at Cicero's Head, in Round Court in the Strand. Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Winter's Tale

Related Works
Related Work: The Winter's Tale Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: A Winter's Tale Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: The Winters Tale Author(s): William Shakespeare

Afterpiece Title: Catherine and Petruchio

Related Works
Related Work: Catherine and Petruchio Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: Sauny the Scot; or, The Taming of a Shrew Author(s): William Shakespeare
Event Comment: Notice is hereby Given that the Annual Feast of the Shakespeare Society will be held on Wednesday the 10th of March next, at the Shakespeare's Head Tavern, Covent Garden, and that tickets are left with the Master of that House to be disposed of to the Gentlemen who subscrib'd for tickets for the last Feast, and who are to call for them on or before the 7th of February. Such Tickets as are not call'd for by that day will be delivered to the Steward to be otherwise disposed of; The person's name to whom a ticket is deliver'd, will be indorsed thereon, and no other person admitted thereby. E.B. Secreatary (Public Advertiser). Receitps: #170 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Winter's Tale

Related Works
Related Work: The Winter's Tale Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: A Winter's Tale Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: The Winters Tale Author(s): William Shakespeare

Afterpiece Title: Catherine and Petruchio

Related Works
Related Work: Catherine and Petruchio Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: Sauny the Scot; or, The Taming of a Shrew Author(s): William Shakespeare
Event Comment: Compos'd by Mr Smith--the Introduction, which was a Dialogue in Prose, between Mr Havard & Yates, Much hiss'd & dislik'd. The Opera had great Applause. Miss Young recover'd (Cross). The Opera never performed before with songs from Shakespear, Dryden, &c. The Music by Mr Smith. [The Bill lists no cast or actors. The cast has been retrieved by Hogan from the 1756 ed. plus the musical score published by J. Walsh. Note some parts were doubled. See "Shakespeare's Tempest at Drury Lane During Garrick's Management", G. W. Stone Jr, Shakespeare Quarterly, Winter 1956.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Tempest

Related Works
Related Work: The Tempest Author(s): William Shakespeare
Event Comment: Benefit for Wood, Sub-Treasurer. Tickets deliver'd out for The Mistake will be taken (playbill). For ye Morocco Embassador, who, tho' unlearn'd in out Language, behav'd as if he understood nature -Mr Wood, the Subtreasurer had Tickets (Cross). [Mrs Frances Brooke, in The Old Maid, for 8 May 1756, gives the following eye-witness account of the evening: "I determined to watch the artless working of [the Ambassador's] surprise, and to catch, as well as I could his sentiments of the theatre, the Audience, the Play, and the performers. And shall give them to my readers, just as they appeared to me. On his first coming to the front of the Box, he was complimented with the Applause of the whole House, which seemed to give him great pleasure, and which he returned by two bows in the English, and afterwards by a reverence in the Moorish manner, which last I thought very graceful...tho' he is rather low of stature, yet his loose flowing robes, and his manner altogether gave him such an air of superiority, that I thought the Audience looked only like his attendants. "The House and Spectators attracted his notice so much for some time, that he seem'd very well entertained before the drawing up of the curtain. At the first scene between the Lords, I thought he looked disappointed, and after a transient view of the stage, directed his eyes again to the company; at the entrance of King Henry his attention was a little recover'd to the performance, but his majesty had not proceeded half way thru the scene, before he burst into a most immoderate fit, of apparently contemptuous laughter, which he repeated very often thro' the whole playing of the part. The manner in which this stranger was affected by it, amongst other considerations, fully convinces me that this character is most ridiculously burlesqued in the representation, and that both Shakespeare and the Monarch are very inhumanly sacrificed, to the polite taste, and elegant distinction of the upper gallery....I could point out many abuses of the like nature, which have increased upon us so much of late, that 'tis almost impossible to attend the theatres, with the expectation of receiving pleasure from some parts of the perfbrmance, without the certainty of suffering equal disgust from others; it was the case of many besides myself, at this of Henry, upon the absurdity of Winchester's brandishing his cane at Canterbury, upon the close of the Council Scene; and yet to give opportunity for this notable stage foolery, the Archbishop and Bishop are both made to walk out of their proper order, tho' in attendance upon the King....His character is drawn by Shakespeare very nearly as it stands in history, and in colours far different from the farcical ones, in which it is the present fashion to represent it. He is described indeed as imperious, but at the same time a great Monarch, and not withstanding his short interjections of anger, he is in my judgment upon every occasion a King. I wish this consideration may prevail with Mr Berry, when he plays this character for the future, to remember that tho' Harry as well as Jobson may be something rough and boistrous, yet the turbulency of a haughty prince, is a very different quality, and must therefore appear in avery different fashion, from the sawciness of an impudent cobbler. "Whatever neglect his Moorish Excellency might discover of this part, he paid great attention to that of Queen Catherine; but nothing seem'd to affect him so stronglyas Miss Young's singing, at which he appeared quite collected, and listened to her with all marks of rapturous admiration; his whole soul appeared touched, and at the end of the song, he joined the house in clapping, a mark of applause I did not observe him give at any other time. "I thought upon the King's kissing Anna Bullen, that he appeared surprized and offended, and looked about, to observe whether others were not affected in the same manner. "The procession was less marked by him than I had expected, but upon the Champion's entry on horseback, he burst into such an Immoderate fit of laughter, as to fall quite back in his seat. "At the end of the play he rose, as if to leave the House, but looked very well pleased upon being informed there was more entertainment to come; in the Pantomime he seem'd surprized and disgusted at the appearance of Harlequin, to whom he did not appear reconciled to the last; his wonder was still greater at the flying of the Genii cross the stage, and other parts of the machinery, which I thought he studied byt was puzzled to account for. He laughed heartily at the Clown, and admired Colombine not a little.... "I am jealous of the honour of my country in all respects. I would have this stranger leave it with as high opinion of our publick entertainments as possible, and could wish that at the Old House, he might see Mr Garrick in Richard or some equally striking part, and at the New, he may be present at plays, where rich dresses, magnificent show and graceful action, and uncommon personal perfections in the principal performers might contribute to give him a more elevated idea of our stage, than he can have receiv'd from King Harry."] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Henry Viii

Related Works
Related Work: Henry The Eighth Author(s): William Shakespeare

Afterpiece Title: The Genii

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Comedy of 3 Acts [by George Colman] never performed. [In the Shakespearean Pageant, with figures from seventeen of his plays, the chief effectiveness lay with the Musicians who ushered in each group with appropriate music: Martial Music-The Roman Characters of Coriolanus and Julius Caesar; Soft Music-Antony and Cleopatra; Grand Music, Old English Characters-King John, Richard III, Henry VIII: Magical Music, "above, about, underneath" for Prospero; Macbeth's Music; Fairy Music-Oberon and Titania; Solemn Music for Tragic Muse accompanied by Othello, Hamlet, the Ghost, Mad Ophelia and Lear with Cordelia; Dead March in Saul-Juliet's Bier with attendants; Allegro for the Comic Muse-Falstaff, Touchstone, Launcelot, Malvolio; Andante-Florizel and Perdita, Portia Antonio and Bassanio; Flourish-for Car drawn by the muses carrying Shakespeare's Bust; Final Song by Mrs Mattocks, "Sweetest Bard that Ever Sung, Nature's glory, Fancy's Child--." The Prelude is, in print, entirely favorable to Garrick's effort at Stratford. But it could be rendered in a mercilessly ironical manner if the three participating actors so chose. Mainpiece reviewed in the Freeholder's Magazine, Oct.] Receipts: #224 10s

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Man And Wife; Or, The Shakespeare Jubilee

Afterpiece Title: Damon and Phillida

Entertainment: End II: Pageant exhibiting the characters of Shakespeare-; End III: Representation of the Amphitheatre at Stratford Upon Avon-; with a Masquerade-

Event Comment: Benefit for Hull. Mainpiece: Reviv'd not acted for 30 years [see 21 Jan. 1742]. [Bell's Shakespeare, 1773 (probably revised by Hull) has same cast plus some additions. See Hogan.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Winter's Tale (as Originally Written By shakespeare)

Afterpiece Title: The Padlock

Music: Select airs and variations on the Triple Harp-Evans

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The London Merchant; Or, The History Of George Barnwell

Afterpiece Title: The Jubilee

Performance Comment: Dramatic Entertainment in honor of Shakespeare in two parts- Dancing-; Dramatic Entertainment-[, introducing a pageant. [No cast listed in playbill but each of the subsequent thirty-three bills mentions "In Honour of Shakespeare."]
Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; PAST 3]: Taken from [The Winter's Tale, by] Shakespeare [altered by George Colman elder]. Afterpiece: Likewise taken from [A Midsummer-Night's Dream, by] Shakespeare. Books of both pieces to be had at the Theatre. The Musick of both pieces by the most eminent Composers [i.e. Michael Arne, Dibdin, Dr Burney, Hook, Theodore Smith, Dr Arnold]. The Characters new dressed

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Sheep-shearing

Related Works
Related Work: The Sheep-Shearing Author(s): William Shakespeare

Afterpiece Title: The Fairy Tale

Related Works
Related Work: The Fairy Tale Author(s): William Shakespeare

Dance: With aPastoral Dance (incident to the [main]piece)-; End: As17770707

Event Comment: Benefit for a Fund for the Relief of those who from their Infirmities shall be obliged to retire from the Stage. [Ernst Brandes quoted in J. A. Kelly, p. 109: Brandes has much to say on the subject of Shakespeare ... He regrets that the role of Ophelia is assigned in both theaters on the strength of the candidate's accomplishments as a singer, which he considers relatively unimportant; and that the mania for operettas has been allowed to disfigure several of Shakespeare's plays. The Tempest had been debased to an opera, and a whole army of witches had been added to the cast of Macbeth, so that witches' arias and witches' choruses might be introduced.] Receipts: #241 10s. (131/16/0; 12/17/6; 1/1/6; tickets: 95/15/0) (charge: free)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Macbeth

Related Works
Related Work: Macbeth Author(s): William Shakespeare

Afterpiece Title: Bon Ton

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 7 years [acted 1 Jan. 1781]. A Dramatic Entertainment of Singing, Dancing, and Dialogue, in Honour of Shakespeare. In which will be introduced a Pageant, the music by Dibdin. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. "The Jubilee is now worn out and of no repute" (Public Advertiser, 21 Nov.). [For a complete account of the original production in 1769 see Christian Deelman, The Great Shakespeare Jubilee, 1964, pp. 280-86.] Receipts: #241 9s. (199/16/0; 39/8/6; 2/4/6)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Winter's Tale

Related Works
Related Work: The Winter's Tale Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: A Winter's Tale Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: The Winters Tale Author(s): William Shakespeare

Afterpiece Title: The Jubilee

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With new Scenery, Dresses and Decorations. [This was the version, altered probably by Joseph George Holman, in which he appeared in Dublin on 29 July 1794, on which occasion the playbill reads, "Dressed in the Habits of the Times, and with other Alterations, adopted in its Representations 19 [recte 11] Nights last Winter, at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden." It further states that the part of Ophelia would be performed "without the Airs, and with a considerable Restoration of the Text." No record of what these alterations consisted of has come to light. In III.iv Hamlet's father was represented by a life-sized portrait that hung over the chimney, and the Queen wore a large miniature of Claudius on her arm as a bracelet (London Chronicle, 10 Oct.). The words of the Dirge are printed in European Magazine, Nov. 1793, p. 393; they are stanza X of Shakespeare's Passionate Pilgrim. Miss Poole had appeared as a singer at king's and at Vauxhall in 1787 and at the cg oratories in 1791.] Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years [and in place of The Prisoner at Large, advertised on playbill of 8 Oct.]. Receipts: #332 4s. (330.3; 2.1)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Hamlet

Related Works
Related Work: Hamlet Author(s): William Shakespeare

Afterpiece Title: Three Weeks after Marriage

Song: In V: a Dirge set to music by Shield, the words from Shakespeare; Vocal Parts-Mrs Martyr, Mrs Mountain, Mrs Clendining, Miss Hopkins, Miss Stuart, Miss Barnett, Mrs Watts, Mrs Follett, Mrs Lloyd, Mrs Masters, Miss Paye, Mrs Blurton, Mrs Castelle, Miss Leserve, Williamson, Linton, Street, Gray

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Law Against Lovers

Performance Comment: [Altered from William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure and Much Ado About Nothing by Sir William Davenant.] Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 26) and the edition of 1673 have no actors' names. But see16610218@2.
Related Works
Related Work: The Law Against Lovers Author(s): William Shakespeare

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Romeo And Juliet

Performance Comment: Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 22): Romeo-Harris; Mercutio-Betterton; Paris-Price; Fryar-Richards; Sampson-Sandford; Gregory-Underhill; Juliet-Mrs Saunderson; Count Paris' Wife-Mrs Holden. Spencer (Shakespeare Improved, p. 73) thinks that James Nokes acted the Nurse.
Related Works
Related Work: Romeo and Juliet Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: The History and Fall of Caius Marius Author(s): William Shakespeare
Event Comment: [The Duke's Company. For Harris' role, see Pepys, 11 May 1668. For Angel as Stephano, see An Elegy Upon...Mr Edward Angell, reprinted in A Little Ark, pp. 38-39: @Who shall play Stephano now? your Tempest's gone@To raise new Storms i' th' hearts of every one.@ For Underhill as Trincalo, note his nickname of Prince Trincalo. (For Mary Davis as Ariel and Mrs Long as Hypolito, see J. H. Wilson, All the King's Ladies, pp. 140, 166.) Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 33): The Tempest...Acted in Lincolns-Inn-Fields...alter'd by Sir William Davenant and Mr Dryden before 'twas made into an Opera. Pepys, Diary: At noon resolved with Sir W. Pen to go see The Tempest, an old play of Shakespeare's, acted, I hear, the first day; and so my wife, and girl, and W. Hewer by themselves, and Sir W. Pen and I afterwards by ourselves; and forced to sit in the side balcone over against the musique-room at the Duke's house, close by my Lady Dorset and a great many great ones. The house mighty full; the King and Court there: and the most innocent play that ever I saw; and a curious piece of musique in an echo of half sentences, the echo repeating the former half, while the man goes on the latter, which is mighty pretty. The play [has] no great wit, but yet good, above ordinary plays. Thence home with Sir W. Pen, and there all mightily pleased with the play

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Tempest

Related Works
Related Work: The Tempest Author(s): William Shakespeare

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Married Beau; Or, The Curious Impertinent

Performance Comment: Edition of 1694. The Prologue-; see Epilogue; The Epilogue-Mr Dogget who Acts Thorneback. A copy of the 1694 quarto in the Folger Shakespeare Library has a manuscript cast which appears to be the original one; Loveley-Powell; Polidor-Betterton; Thorneback-Dogget; Sir John-Bowen; Mrs Loveley-Mrs Barry; Cecilia-Mrs Bowman; Camilla-Mrs Bracegirdle; Lionell-Mrs Verbruggen; Prologue-Mr Powell?.
Event Comment: Betterton's Company. This performance is known from a playbill in the Folger Shakespeare Library: Not Acted these 16 Years. At the New Theatre, in Little Lincolns-Inn Fields, Tomorrow being Thursday the 28th of October, will be Reviv'd, A Play call'd Troilus and Cressida; or, Truth Found too late. No Person to stand on the Stage. Nor any Money to be after Return'd [sic] the Curtain is Drawn up. By His Majesties Servants. Vivat Rex

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Troilus And Cressida; Or, Truth Found Too Late

Related Works
Related Work: Troilus and Cressida; or, Truth Found Too Late Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: Troilus and Cressida Author(s): William Shakespeare
Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the Prologue refers to "this Winter," suggesting a date before March 1700. A song, Ah Belinda I am pressed, in this play, appeared in Orpheus Britannica, 1698, the music by Henry Purcell, who had died some years before its appearance in this collection. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), pp. 26-27, referring to the rivalry between lif and dl in reviving Shakespeare and Jonson: The Battel continued a long time doubtful, and Victory hovering over both Camps, Batterton Sollicts for some Auxiliaries from the same Author, and then he flanks his Enemy with Measure for Measure

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Measure For Measure; Or, Beauty The Best Advocate

Related Works
Related Work: Measure for Measure; or, Beauty the Best Advocate Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: Measure for Measure Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: The Law Against Lovers Author(s): William Shakespeare
Event Comment: Sir John Perceval to Elizabeth Stockwell, 20 Sept.: We should have languished for want of diversion but for Othello, which drew all the stragglers in town together, and our number was greater than I imagined....Meanwhile I declare that they who cannot be moved at Othello's story so artfully worked up by Shakespeare, and justly played by Betterton, are capable of marrying again before their husbands are cold, of trampling on a lover when dying at their feet, and are fit converse with tigers only (Egmont MS, II, 240)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Othello, Moor Of Venice

Related Works
Related Work: Othello Author(s): William Shakespeare
Event Comment: Written by Shakespeare. Receipts: #52 19s

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Measure For Measure

Related Works
Related Work: Measure for Measure; or, Beauty the Best Advocate Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: Measure for Measure Author(s): William Shakespeare
Related Work: The Law Against Lovers Author(s): William Shakespeare
Event Comment: Benefit Hallam, Robert Williams, and Peplow. Mainpiece: As it was alter'd from Shakespeare by Sir Wm D'Avenant and Mr Dryden

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Tempest

Related Works
Related Work: The Tempest Author(s): William Shakespeare

Afterpiece Title: The Strolers

Dance: End I: The Muzette-Young Rainton, Miss Robinson; III: Whitson Holidays-Boval, Miss Tenoe

Ballet: End Farce: The Cobler's Jealous Wife. As17270505