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) "William Shirley"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "William Shirley")') 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

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We found 11102 matches on Author, 1666 matches on Performance Comments, 448 matches on Event Comments, 53 matches on Performance Title, and 0 matches on Roles/Actors.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Orphan; Or, The Unhappy Marriage

Performance Comment: Chamont-Elrington; Castalio-Wilks; Polydor-Williams; Acasto-Corey; Chaplain-Bridgwater; Monimia-Mrs Porter; Serina-Mrs Cibber; Page-Miss Robinson Jr.
Cast
Role: Polydor Actor: Williams

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Metamorphosis; Or, The Old Lover Outwitted

Performance Comment: Sir Credulous Mammon-Reynolds; Old Traffick-Giffard; Young Traffick-Adams; Lovemore-Withers; Crafty-Nicholls; Trickwell-Symonds; Nickum-Hill; Cheatley-Turner; Sly-Pearce; Roger-Williams; Carolina-Mrs Taylor; Emilia-Miss Man; Martina-Mrs Elsam.
Cast
Role: Roger Actor: Williams
Related Works
Related Work: The Metamorphosis Author(s): William Jackson

Afterpiece Title: The Craftsman; or, The Weekly Journalist

Performance Comment: No cast in bill or edition of 1728, but second edition of 1729 lists: Sir Whimsical Watchit-Giffard; D'Anvers-Adams; Mactawdry-Williams; Trap-Symonds; Lookout-Hill; Widow Speedy-Mrs Elsam; Melissa-Mrs Purden; Betty-Mrs Gill; Prologue-; Epilogue-Symonds.
Cast
Role: Mactawdry Actor: Williams

Dance: Cleveland, Turner, Mrs Anderson, Mrs Turner

Related Works
Related Work: Presumptuous Love Author(s): William TavernerWilliam Turner

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Fair Penitent

Performance Comment: Lothario-Elrington; Calista-Mrs Oldfield; Altamont-Wilks; Sciolto-Williams; Horatio-Mills; Lavinia-Mrs Horton; Lucilla-Mrs Cibber.
Cast
Role: Sciolto Actor: Williams

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Funeral; Or, Grief A La Mode

Performance Comment: Brumpton-Williams; Hardy-Cibber; Campley-Wilks; Trusty-Mills; Sable-Johnson; Puzzle-Shepard; Trim-Miller; Lady Brumpton-Mrs Horton; Lady Charlot-Mrs Porter; Lady Harriet-Mrs Booth; Mademoiselle D'Epingle-Mrs Shireburn; Mrs Fardingale-Norris; Kate Matchlock-Harper.
Cast
Role: Brumpton Actor: Williams

Afterpiece Title: Harlequin Doctor Faustus

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Spanish Fryar; Or, The Double Discovery

Performance Comment: Torrismond-Adams; Bertran-Williams; Raymond-Thomas; Pedro-Hill; Alphonso-Withers; Lorenzo-Smith; Dominic-Layfield; Gomez-Reynolds; Queen-Mrs Purden; Elvira-Mrs Gill; Teresa-Miss Man.
Cast
Role: Bertran Actor: Williams

Afterpiece Title: The Craftsman

Dance:

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Spanish Fryar

Performance Comment: Torrismond-Elrington; Queen-Mrs Thurmond; Bertran-Williams; Lorenzo-Wilks; Fryar-Harper; Gomez-Norris; Elvira-Mrs Booth.
Cast
Role: Bertran Actor: Williams

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Orphan

Performance Comment: Castalio-Adams; Monimia-Mrs Purden(, from Drury Lane); Acasto-Lacy; Polydore-Smith; Chamont-Giffard; Chaplain-Williams; Page-Mrs Mountfort; Serena-Mrs Turner; Florella-Miss Mann.
Cast
Role: Chaplain Actor: Williams

Dance: SScaramouch-Sandham

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Rover

Performance Comment: Rover-Wilks; Hellena-Mrs Booth; Angelica-Mrs Porter; Belvill-Mills; Frederick-Williams; Blunt-Johnson; Pedro-Bridgwater; Antonio-Wm. Mills; Sancho-Norris; Florinda-Mrs Horton; Valeria-Mrs Cibber; Moretta-Mrs Mills.
Cast
Role: Frederick Actor: Williams
Related Works
Related Work: The Lady’s Revenge; or, The Rover Reclaim'd Author(s): William Popple

Dance:

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Love In A Riddle

Performance Comment: Edition of 1729 lists: Arcas-Mills; Aegon-Harper; Amyntas-Williams; Iphis-Mrs Thurmond; Philautus-Cibber; Corydon-Griffin; Cimon-Miller; Mopsus-Oates; Damon-Ray; Ianthe-Mrs Cibber; Pastora-Mrs Lindar; Phillida-Mrs Raftor; Prologue-Wilks; Epilogue-Egon [Harper].Harper].
Cast
Role: Amyntas Actor: Williams

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The True And Ancient History Of King Lear And His Three Daughters

Performance Comment: Lear-Mills; Edgar-Elrington; Edmund-Wm. Mills; Gloster-Roberts; Kent-Williams; Gentleman Usher-Cibber Jr; Cordelia-Mrs Booth; Goneril-Mrs Grace; Regan-Mrs Shireburn.
Cast
Role: Kent Actor: Williams

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Theodosius

Performance Comment: As17281121 but Theodosius-Williams; Marcian-Mills; Atticus-Boman; Leontine-Corey; Pulcheria-Mrs Horton.
Cast
Role: Theodosius Actor: Williams

Afterpiece Title: Harlequin Happy

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Love Makes A Man; Or, The Fop's Fortune

Performance Comment: Cholerick-Miller; Clodio-Cibber; Antonio-Shepard; Charino-Griffin; Carlos-Williams; Duart-Bridgwater; Manuel-Wm. Mills; Governor-Roberts; Sancho-Norris; Elvira-Mrs Porter; Angelina-Mrs Cibber; Louisa-Mrs Horton; Honoria-Miss Raftor.
Cast
Role: Carlos Actor: Williams

Dance:

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Mithridates, King Of Pontus

Performance Comment: Mithridates-Mills; Ziphares-Wilks; Pharnaces-Bridgwater; Aquillius-Williams; Archelius-Boman; Pelopidus-Wm. Mills; Androvar-Corey; Semandra-Mrs Oldfield; Monimia-Mrs Cibber.
Cast
Role: Aquillius Actor: Williams

Afterpiece Title: Harlequin Happy

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Recruiting Officer

Performance Comment: Balance-Giffard; Plume-Smith; Worthy-Lacy; Brazen-Hill; Kite-Williams; Bullock-Reynolds; Pearmain-Wathen; Appletree-Hicks; Constable-Peirce; Melinda-Mrs Purden; Sylvia-Mrs Thomas; Rose-Mrs Mountfort; Lucy-Mrs Nokes.
Cast
Role: Kite Actor: Williams

Music: Select Pieces on Kettle Drums and Trumpets-

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Cato

Performance Comment: As17281214, but Sempronius-Mills; Juba-Wilks; Syphax-Cibber; Portius-Williams; Marcus-Bridgwater; Decius-Bowman; Lucius-Cory; Marcia-Mrs Horton; Lucia-Mrs Porter.
Cast
Role: Portius Actor: Williams

Afterpiece Title: Perseus and Andromeda

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Fatal Marriage

Performance Comment: Isabella-Mrs Porter; Villeroy-Mills; Baldwin-Bowman; Biron-Williams; Carlos-Cibber Jr; Frederick-Bridgwater; Fernando-Norris; Jaqueline-Miller; Porter-Harper; Julia-Mrs Butler; Victoria-Mrs Cibber; Nurse-Mrs Wetherilt.
Cast
Role: Biron Actor: Williams

Afterpiece Title: The What D'ye Call It

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Royal Captives

Performance Comment: Principal Parts-Hulet, Giffard, Gillow, Hill, Mechin, Williams, Mrs Purden, Mrs Carter, Mrs Mountfort, Mrs Mann.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Love's Last Shift

Performance Comment: Loveless-Ryan; Young Worthy-Walker; Elder Worthy-Milward; Sir William-Hippisley; Snap-H. Bullock; Sly-Bullock; Amanda-Mrs Berriman; Narcissa-Mrs Bullock; Hillaria-Mrs Buchanan; Flareit-Mrs Egleton; Sir Novelty-Hawker.
Cast
Role: Sir William Actor: Hippisley

Afterpiece Title: The Cobler's Opera

Dance: PPierrots-Salle, Pelling; Fingalian-Newhouse, Mrs Ogden

Performances

Mainpiece Title: King Henry The Viiith

Performance Comment: As17280928, but Buckingham-Bridgwater; Norfolk-W. Mills; Suffolk-Boman; Surrey-Williams; Sands-Miller; Anna Bullen-Mrs Horton.
Cast
Role: Surrey Actor: Williams

Afterpiece Title: The Strolers

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Fortune Hunters; Or, Two Fools Well Met

Performance Comment: Young Wealthy-Ryan; Sir William-Bullock; Tom-Walker; Shamtown-Hippisley; Lady Sly-Mrs Berriman; Sophis-Mrs Bullock; Mrs Spruce-Mrs Egleton; Maria-Mrs Younger.
Cast
Role: Sir William Actor: Bullock

Song: Mrs Barbier

Dance: TTwo Pierrots-Salle, Pelling; Fingalian-Newhouse, Mrs Ogden; Les Vandangeurs-Moreau, Mrs Moreau

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Tamerlane

Performance Comment: Bajazet-Hulett; Tamerlane-Smith; Moneses-Gillow; Axalla-Williams; Dervise-Machen; Omar-Giffard; Prince of Tanais-Downes; Arpasia-Mrs Purden; Selima-Mrs Seal, lately arrived from Ireland; To which will be added a Whimsical Letter from the Lord Viscount Flame to the Mufti of Terra@Australis@Incognita repeated-Mr Johnson of Chesire, Author of Hurlothrumbo.
Cast
Role: Axalla Actor: Williams

Dance:

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Smuglers

Performance Comment: Edition of 1729 lists: Vulcan-Hulet; Bung-Giffard; Crabb-Pearce; Conscience-Gillow; Oats-Williams; Pigg-Wathen; Couch-Hill; Alspike-Downs; Snack-Reynolds; Trusty-Smith; Rapp-Machen; Hearsay-Hicks; Bluet-Dove; Verdict-Taylor; Mrs Vulcan-Mrs Thomas; Mrs Susan-Mrs Purden; Peg Ambler-Mrs Carter; Bess Blouse-Mrs Palmer; Moll Titup-Mrs Jones; Prologue-Gillow.
Cast
Role: Oats Actor: Williams

Afterpiece Title: The Patron; or, Statesman's Opera

Event Comment: Benefit Cook and Williams, Boxkeepers

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Love's Last Shift

Cast
Role: Sir William Actor: Johnson
Role: Worthy Actor: Williams

Afterpiece Title: The What D'ye Call It

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Beggar's Wedding

Performance Comment: Hunter-Ray; Phebe-Mrs Mountfort; others-Giffard, Rosco, Penkethman, W. Williams, Stoplar, Pearce, Dove, Russel, Mrs Nokes, Mrs Thomas, Mrs Palmer, Mrs Jones.

Afterpiece Title: Southwark Fair; or, The Sheep Shearing

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

Afterpiece Title: The Humours of Harlequin

Song: [On this day only?] A Song by Seedo-Mrs Nokes [in Boy's Cloaths, when the Lord Mayor passes by to proclaim the Fair

Related Works
Related Work: The Ladies Visiting-Day Author(s): William Burnaby
Related Work: The Follies of a Day Author(s): William Shield
Related Work: The Follies of a Day; or, The Marriage of Figaro Author(s): William Shield
Related Work: Valentine's Day Author(s): William Heard

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Distrest Mother

Performance Comment: Andromache-Mrs Oldfield; Orestes-Mills; Pyrrhus-Williams; Pylades-Wm. Mills; Hermione-Mrs Porter.
Cast
Role: Pyrrhus Actor: Williams

Afterpiece Title: The Contrivances