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) "the Sir Williams"/1) | (@(roleclean,performerclean) "the Sir Williams")') 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 11545 matches on Author, 6982 matches on Performance Comments, 1316 matches on Event Comments, 1129 matches on Roles/Actors, and 512 matches on Performance Title.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Unhappy Favourite; Or, The Earl Of Essex

Performance Comment: Essex-Smith; Southampton-W. Williams; Burleigh-W. Giffard; Sir Walter-Mynns; Lieutenant-R. Williams; Queen-Mrs Haughton; Rutland-Mrs Purden; Nottingham-Mrs Thomas.
Cast
Role: Southampton Actor: W. Williams
Role: Sir Walter Actor: Mynns
Role: Lieutenant Actor: R. Williams

Dance: As17291108

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Fair Quaker Of Deal; With The Humours Of The Navy

Performance Comment: Flip-Penkethman; Mizen-Bullock; Worthy-Smith; Rovewell-Huddy; Sir Charles-Barden; Cribbidge-W. Williams; Easy-R. Williams; Indent-Lacy; Coxen-Collet; Sailors-W. Giffard, Mynns, Pearce, Machin; Dorcas Zeal-Mrs Giffard; Mrs Mountfort; Advocate-Mrs Kirk; Bar Maid-Mrs Palmer.
Cast
Role: Sir Charles Actor: Barden
Role: Cribbidge Actor: W. Williams
Role: Easy Actor: R. Williams

Song: Miss Thornowets

Dance:

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Fair Penitent

Performance Comment: As17291208, but Horatio-Gentleman; Lothario-Bardin; With a new Prologue-the Gentleman who plays Horatio.

Afterpiece Title: Flora

Performance Comment: Hob-Bardin; Sir Thomas-W. Williams; Dick-Eaton; Old Hob-Pearce; Friendly-Mrs Thomas; Flora-Mrs Mountfort; Betty-Miss M. Vaughan , her first appearance on this stage; Hob's Mother-Mrs Palmer.
Cast
Role: Sir Thomas Actor: W. Williams
Role: Hob's Mother Actor: Mrs Palmer.

Song: Miss Thornowets

Dance: FFlag Dance-Burny

Event Comment: To begin positively at Six o'Clock, the Beginning later the last Season being found very Inconvenient

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Stratagem

Performance Comment: Archer-Giffard; Aimwell-W. Williams; Sullen-Smith; Gibbet-Bullock; Foigard-R. Williams; Bonniface-Pearce; Sir Charles-Barden; Scrub-Collett; Mrs Sullen-Mrs Giffard; Dorinda-Mrs Thomas; Lady Bountiful-Mrs Palmer; Cherry-Mrs Mountfort.
Cast
Role: Aimwell Actor: W. Williams
Role: Foigard Actor: R. Williams
Role: Sir Charles Actor: Barden

Song:

Dance:

Performances

Mainpiece Title: A Bold Stroke For A Wife

Performance Comment: Colonel Fainwell-Williams; Sir Phillip-Bullock; Perriwinkle-Collet; Obadiah-Penkethman; Tradelove-Pearce; Sackbut-R. Williams; Freeman-Barret; Simon-W. Giffard; Anne Lovely-Mrs Haughton; Mrs Prim-Mrs Thomas; Betty-Mrs Palmer.
Cast
Role: Colonel Fainwell Actor: Williams
Role: Sir Phillip Actor: Bullock
Role: Sackbut Actor: R. Williams

Afterpiece Title: Flora

Dance:

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Tender Husband; Or, The Accomplish'd Fools

Performance Comment: Clerimont-Giffard; Sir Hary-W. Williams; Humphrey-Penkethman; Tipkin-Collet; Pounce-Huddy; Clerimont Sr-Rosco; Niece-Mrs Giffard; Mrs Clerimont-Miss Smith; Aunt-Mrs Woodward; Fainlove-Mrs Thomas; Jenny-Mrs Palmer.
Cast
Role: Sir Hary Actor: W. Williams

Dance: Sandham, Eaton, Miss Sandham

Song: Master Corse

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Fair Quaker Of Deal

Performance Comment: Flip-Penkethman; Mizen-Bullock; Worthy-Smith ; Rovewell-Huddy; Sir Charles-Bardin; Cribbidge-W. Williams; Easy-R. Williams; Indent-Collet; Sailors-W. Giffard, Mynns, Pearce, Machen; Fair Quaker-Mrs Giffard; Arabella-Mrs Thomas; Belinda-Mrs Haughton; Jenny-Miss Smith; Jiltup-Mrs Mountfort; Advocate-Miss Vaughan; Barmaid-Mrs Palmer.
Cast
Role: Sir Charles Actor: Bardin
Role: Cribbidge Actor: W. Williams
Role: Easy Actor: R. Williams

Afterpiece Title: Flora

Cast
Role: Old Hob Actor: W. Williams
Role: Hob's Mother Actor: Mrs Palmer
Role: Sir Thomas Actor: Collet

Song:

Dance:

Event Comment: Never Acted before. [by Theophilus Cibber. The Dedication speaks of "Tumult" on the first night, and Grub St. Journal, 21 Jan., has a satiric comment upon the events of the night.

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Lover

Performance Comment: edition of 1730 lists: Sir John Trueman-Williams; Eustace-Mills; Eugenio-Watson; Captain Smart-Cibber Jr; Squire Timber down-R. Wetherilt; Granger-W. Mills; Modely-Bridgwater; Loveless-A. Hallam; Hardhead-Berry; Constable-Harper; Inanthe-Mrs Cibber; Harriet-Mrs Heron; Laetitia-Mrs Thurmond; Isabel-Mrs Butler; Beatrice-Mrs Shireburn; Lettice-Mrs Grace; Prologue design'd to be spoken by Mills. Prologue-Wilks; Epilogue-the Author, the Author's Wife.
Cast
Role: Sir John Trueman Actor: Williams
Role: Squire Timber down Actor: R. Wetherilt
Role: Inanthe Actor: Mrs Cibber
Role: Epilogue Actor: the Author, the Author's Wife.
Related Works
Related Work: The Law Against Lovers Author(s): Sir William Davenant
Related Work: The Unfortunate Lovers Author(s): Sir William Davenant
Related Work: The Ungrateful [Unfortunate] Lovers Author(s): Sir William Davenant
Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Gentlemen and Ladies

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Temple Beau

Performance Comment: Temple Beau-Giffard; Sir Avarice-Collet; Sir Harry-Morgan; Veromel-W. Giffard; Valentine-W. Williams; Young Pedant-Bullock; Pincet-Bardin; Lucy-Mrs Giffard; Lady Gravely-Mrs Haughton; Bellaria-Mrs Morgan; Clarissa-Miss Smith.
Cast
Role: Sir Avarice Actor: Collet
Role: Sir Harry Actor: Morgan
Role: Valentine Actor: W. Williams
Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Giffard. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Double Gallant

Performance Comment: Lady Dainty-Mrs Giffard; Atall-Giffard; Sir Solomon-Collet; Clerimont-Rosco; Careless-W. Giffard; Strut-W. Williams; Old Wilful-Morgan; Sir Harry-Pearce; Finder-Bullock; Lady Sadlife-Mrs Plomer; Clarinda-Mrs Morgan; Sylvia-Mrs Haughton; Wishwell-Mrs Palmer; Situp-Mrs Thomas.
Cast
Role: Sir Solomon Actor: Collet
Role: Strut Actor: W. Williams
Role: Sir Harry Actor: Pearce

Afterpiece Title: Tom Thumb

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Man's Bewitch'd; Or, The Devil To Do About Her

Performance Comment: Faithful-Giffard; Constant-Williams; Lovely-Huddy; Manage-W. Giffard; Trusty-Bardin; Clinch-Collett; Roger-R. Williams; Old Constant-Rosco; Slouch-Pearce; Sir David-Morgan; Num-Bullock; Belinda-Mrs Haughton; Laura-Mrs Morgan; Maria-Mrs Thomas; Dorothy-Mrs Palmer; Lucy-Mrs Plomer.
Cast
Role: Constant Actor: Williams
Role: Roger Actor: R. Williams
Role: Sir David Actor: Morgan
Related Works
Related Work: Merlin; or, The Devil of Stone-Henge Author(s): Lewis Theobald
Related Work: The Devil to Pay; or, The Wives Metamorphos'd Author(s): Theophilus Cibber
Related Work: Blue Devils Author(s): George Colman, the younger

Afterpiece Title: The Sailor's Wedding

Dance:

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Fair Quaker Of Deal

Performance Comment: As17310323 but Worthy-Smith; Rovewell-Huddy; Sir Charles-Bardin; Cribbidge-W. Williams; Easy-R. Williams; Purser-Havard; Coxen-Collet; Sailors-Pearce, Rosco; Arabella-Mrs Thomas; Belinda-Mrs Haughton; Jenny-Mrs Plomer; Jiltup-Mrs Palmer; Barmaid-Mrs Morgan.
Cast
Role: Sir Charles Actor: Bardin
Role: Cribbidge Actor: W. Williams
Role: Easy Actor: R. Williams

Afterpiece Title: The Sailor's Wedding

Song: NNew Mad Tom-Dodson

Performances

Mainpiece Title: Jane Shore

Performance Comment: Hastings-Giffard; Gloster-W. Giffard; Catesby-Bambridge; Sir Richard-Williams; Bellmour-Havard; Dumont-Rosco; Jane Shore-Mrs Giffard; Alicia-Mrs Roberts.
Cast
Role: Sir Richard Actor: Williams

Afterpiece Title: The Lovers Opera

Dance: As17311104

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Lady Jane Gray

Performance Comment: Pembroke-Delane; Lady Jane Gray-Mrs Giffard; Northumberland-Rosco; Suffolk-Huddy; Dudley-Giffard; Sussex-Bardin; Gardiner-W. Giffard; Sir John-Williams; Lieutenant-Havard; Captain-Jenkins; Dutchess of Suffolk-Mrs Haughton.
Cast
Role: Sir John Actor: Williams

Afterpiece Title: The Lovers Opera

Dance:

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Lady Jane Gray

Performance Comment: Pembroke-Delane; Lady Jane Gray-Mrs Giffard; Northumberland-Rosco; Suffolk-Huddy; Dudley-Giffard; Sussex-Bardin; Gardiner-W. Giffard; Sir John-Winstone Williams in Daily Advertiser; Lieutenant-Havard; Captain-Jenkins; Duchess of Suffolk-Mrs Haughton.

Dance: Valois and Mlle Valois, Mrs Bullock, Jones, Hind

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Connoisseur; Or, Every Man In His Folly

Performance Comment: Parts by Quin, Cibber, Griffin, W. Mills, Mecklin, Salway, Mrs Clive, Miss Holliday, Mrs Pritchard, Mrs Cross; but edition of 1736 lists: Lord Constant-Quin; Lord Modely-Cibber; Sir Godfrey Trinket-Griffin; Sir Harry Gaylove-W. Mills; Cheatly-Mechlin; Signior Bagatelli-Salway; Tom-Turbutt; William-Cross; Flavia-Mrs Clive; Araminta-Miss Holiday; Mrs Freelove-Mrs Pritchard; Lucy-Mrs Cross. Prologue written by Aaron Hill and spoken by Quin. Epilogue spoken by Mrs Clive .
Event Comment: Benefit Dormer, Author of the Female Rake, &c. Afterpiece: a Ballad-Comedy of Two Acts never performed before. [By Joseph Dorman (?). Tickets at Mrs Talbot's Coffee House in the Passage in DL Playhouse and at the Author's House in Old Bailey.]

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The London Merchant

Afterpiece Title: The Female Rake; or, Modern Fine Lady

Performance Comment: Phillis-Mrs Talbot; but edition of 1736 lists also: Lord Fashion-Pullen; Sir George Friendly-Turner; Clerimont-Freeman; Townly-Smith; Dapper-Williams; Sir Harry Trueman-Smith; Tim-Mrs Charke; George-Lowder; James-Adams; Libertine-Miss Jones; Sylvia-Mrs Eaton; Celia-Mrs Mills. Prologue. Epilogue spoken by Miss Jones .
Cast
Role: Sir George Friendly Actor: Turner
Role: Dapper Actor: Williams
Role: Sir Harry Trueman Actor: Smith
Event Comment: [Mainpiece extended to 5 acts from 3 (Winston MS 9). See Murphy letter to Garrick 2 Aug., in Boaden, Private Correspondence, I, 119, re his attempt to get Garrick to accept this play.] Way to Keep Him enlarged from the piece of 3 acts into 5, by the author, received with universal applause. Prologue by Murphy, heavy (Hopkins MS Notes)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Way To Keep Him

Performance Comment: Actors only: Garrick, Yates, Palmer, King, Ackman, Mrs Yates, Mrs Davies, Mrs Bradshaw, Miss Hippisley, Mrs Clive, Mrs Cibber. New Prologue-Holland; Lovemore-Garrick; Sir Bashful Constant-Yates; Sir Brilliant Fashion-Palmer; William-King; Widow Bellmour-Mrs Cibber; Mrs Lovemore-Mrs Yates; Muslin-Mrs Clive; Lady Constant-Mrs Davies; Mignionet-Mrs Bradshaw; Sideboard-Ackman; Furnish-Mrs Hippisley (Winston MS 9).

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Way To Keep Him

Performance Comment: Lovemore-Garrick; Sir Brilliant Fashion-Packer; William-King; Mrs Lovemore-Mrs Yates; Muslin-Mrs Clive; Widow Bellmour-Mrs Cibber (Song in Character); Lady Constant-Mrs Davies; Furnish-Mrs Hippisley; Sideboard-Ackman; Mignionette-Mrs Bradshaw; Sir Bashful Constant-Yates.

Afterpiece Title: The Old Maid

Dance: By Particular Desire aHornpipe-Miss Dawson, others

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Way To Keep Him

Performance Comment: Lovemore-Holland, first time; Widow Belmour-Miss Pope (with a song in character); Sir Brilliant Fashion-Palmer; William-King; Sir Bashful Constant-Yates; Lady Constant-Mrs Davies; Mrs Lovemore-Mrs Yates; Muslin-Mrs Clive; Mignionet-Mrs Bradshaw; Furnish-Mrs Hippisley.

Afterpiece Title: The Rites of Hecate

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Tomorrow, King Henry IV, Part II, Friday being a Holiday, the New Opera of Almena is deferr'd till Saturday, when it will be perform'd for the Benefit of the Author and Composers

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Way To Keep Him

Performance Comment: Lovemore-Holland; Sir Bashful Constant-Yates; Sir Brilliant Fashion-Palmer; William-King; Widow Bellmour (with song in character)-Mrs Cibber; Lady Constant-Mrs Hopkins; Muslin-Mrs Clive; Mrs Lovemore-Mrs Yates; Mignionet-Mrs Bradshaw; Furnish-Mrs Hippisley.

Dance: I: The Irish Lilt, as17641011; III: A New Scaramouch Dance, as17641013; IV: New Tambourine, as17640929

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Way To Keep Him

Performance Comment: Lovemore-Holland; Sir Bashful-Yates; Sir Brilliant-Palmer; William-Baddeley; Sideboard-Ackman; Lady Constant-Mrs Hopkins; Muslin-Mrs Clive; Mignionet-Mrs Bradshaw; Widow Bellmour (with song in character)-Miss Pope; Mrs Lovemore-Mrs Yates.
Cast
Role: Sir Bashful Actor: Yates
Role: Sir Brilliant Actor: Palmer

Afterpiece Title: The Witches

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Benefit for Mrs Abington. Part of Pit laid into boxes. House Charges #64 4s. [Profit to Mrs Abington #166 2s. 6d.] [The Farce-2 acts all from the comedy 'What we must all Come to' by Arthur Murphy, The airs by Hook.] Paid Blake (hosier) bill #3 15s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #230 6s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Way To Keep Him

Performance Comment: Lovemore-Holland; Sir Bashful Constant-Yates; Sir Brilliant Fashion-Palmer; William-Baddeley; Widow Bellmour (with song in character)-Mrs Abington; Lady Constant-Mrs Hopkins; Muslin-Mrs Clive; Sideboard-Ackman; Mignionet-Mrs Bradshaw; Mrs Lovemore-Mrs Yates.

Afterpiece Title: Marriage a la Mode; or, Conjugal Douceurs

Dance: End: Hearts of Oak, as17670212

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Way To Keep Him

Performance Comment: Lovemore-Holland; Sir Bashful Constant-King; Sir Brilliant Fashion-Palmer; William-Baddeley; Sideboard-Ackman; Widow Bellmour (with song in character)-Mrs Abington; Mrs Lovemore-Mrs Palmer, 1st time; Muslin-Mrs Clive; Lady Constant-Mrs Barry; Mignionette-Mrs Bradshaw.

Afterpiece Title: The National Prejudice

Performance Comment: Principal characters-Reddish, Cautherly, J. Palmer, Ackman, J. Burton, Miss Simson, Miss Reynolds, Mrs Abington; With a Prologue-; Epilogue-.

Dance: Act I afterpiece: a French Dance call'd The Cotillion-Giorgi, Duquesney, Tassoni, Rolley, Mrs King, Sga Giorgi, Miss Tetley, Mrs Grimaldi; V: The Irish Hay@makers, as17670919

Performances

Mainpiece Title: The Way To Keep Him

Performance Comment: Lovemore-Smith; Sir Brilliant-Bensley, 1st time; William-Cushing; Sideboard-Holtom; Sir Bashful-Yates; Widow Belmour (with the original song)-Miss Macklin; Lady Constant-Mrs Dyer; Muslin-Mrs Green; Mignionet-Miss Pearce; Furnish-Miss Mills; Mrs Lovemore-Mrs Yates.
Cast
Role: Sir Brilliant Actor: Bensley, 1st time
Role: Sir Bashful Actor: Yates

Afterpiece Title: Harlequin Dr Faustus

Dance: II: The Lamplighters, as17681101