2026-04-24T11:22:07Z

David Coates:

The Amateur Theatre in Rawstorne Place, Rawstorne Street, south of Angel, London, was active as a private theatre for amateurs in the 1820s. It was here that the actor Samuel Phelps made his first appearance and was a principal performer for five years while working as a journalist. He is thought to have associated there with the dramatist Douglas Jerrold and W. E. Love, the Polyphonist. A playbill for theatricals taking place in 1832 tell us that the 'Interior of the theatre has been entirely rebuilt' and that the late proprietor was a Mr. Mitchell.

== Performances ==
11 November 1824 (Thursday) - The play ''The Iron Chest'' was performed, to be followed by the melodrama of ''The Innkeeper of Abbeville''.

9 August 1825 (Tuesday) - Shakespeare's tragedy of ''Richard III'' is performed followed by the melodrama of ''The Miller and his Men''. Between the pieces was a scotch hornpipe performance.

12 April 1826 (Wednesday) - Coleman's comedy of The Poor Gentleman is followed by a favourite interlude of The Intrigue, and the night is concluded with ''The Innkeeper of Abbeville''.

23 June 1828 (Monday) - The comedy of ''Speed the Plough'', the Melodrama of ''Miller's Maid'', concluding with ''The Young Widow''. Between the first and second piece there was a favourite comic song and a hornpipe performance. It is advertised as the 'Last Night' as if it was the final evening of a series of performances.

28-30 December 1831 - a double-paged playbill outlines the programme for each night, which is different but always ends with a pantomime piece. There is nothing obvious here to suggest that this remains a theatre for amateur activity.

20 June 1832 (Wednesday) - Shakespeare's ''Othello'' is followed by the third act of ''Hamlet'' and the Scottish romance ''The Lady of the Lake''. A hornpipe performance and band playing an overture featured in the evening.

21 June 1832 (Thursday) - The playbill from the previous day tells us that the romance of ''The Castle Spectre'' will be presented alongside 'a Variety of other Entertainments'.

3 October 1832 - There is a farewell performance for Mr Mitchell, the late proprietor of the theatre. He says that he has engaged the services of admired professional friends, perhaps suggesting that the venue was still maintained largely by amateur activity. The pieces performed were ''Fazio: or; The Italian Wife'' and the comedy of ''Speed the Plough''. Between the pieces were two songs, a hornpipe performance and a recitation.
[[Category:Britain]]
[[Category:Venues]]

Rawstorne Place Amateur Theatre

2026-04-24T11:15:36Z

David Coates: Created page with "The Amateur Theatre in Rawstorne Place, Rawstorne Street, south of Angel, London, was active as a private theatre for amateurs in the 1820s. It was here that the actor Samuel Phelps made his first appearance and was a principal performer for five years while working as a journalist. He is thought to have associated there with the dramatist Douglas Jerrold and W. E. Love, the Polyphonist. A playbill for theatricals taking place in 1832 tell us that the 'Interior of the t..."

Private Theatres

2026-04-24T10:37:52Z

David Coates:

In the British context there are a number of different types of private theatre.

Firstly, private theatres could refer to venues that were built within or close to country and town houses own by Britain's elite. These sort of private theatres existed at houses such as [[Wynnstay Hall|Wynnstay]], [[Chatsworth House|Chatsworth]], [[Woburn Abbey]] and [[Brandenburgh House]].

Secondly, private theatres could refer to venues that existed in cities - particularly London - and served a middle class clientele. Such theatres include [[Pym's Private Theatre|Pym's, in Wilson Street, Gray's Inn Lane]], the [[Berwick Street Private Theatre]], the private theatre in Rawstorne Place, the subscription theatre at 55, [[Bath Street Subscription Theatre|Bath Street]] City Road, and the [[Dramatic Institution in Hackney Road]]. These theatres were described in [[Dickens]]'s ''Sketches by Boz'' as lowly spaces with dubious reputations. However, they were later recognised as the training ground for numerous actors of the mid- and late- nineteenth century theatre, who mentioned treading the boards in these private theatres in their memoirs.
[[Category:Britain]]
[[Category:Venues]]

Private Theatres

2026-04-24T10:34:49Z

David Coates: added rawstorne street

In the British context there are a number of different types of private theatre.

Firstly, private theatres could refer to venues that were built within or close to country and town houses own by Britain's elite. These sort of private theatres existed at houses such as [[Wynnstay Hall|Wynnstay]], [[Chatsworth House|Chatsworth]], [[Woburn Abbey]] and [[Brandenburgh House]].

Secondly, private theatres could refer to venues that existed in cities - particularly London - and served a middle class clientele. Such theatres include [[Pym's Private Theatre|Pym's, in Wilson Street, Gray's Inn Lane]], the [[Berwick Street Private Theatre]], the private theatre in Rawstorne Street, the subscription theatre at 55, [[Bath Street Subscription Theatre|Bath Street]] City Road, and the [[Dramatic Institution in Hackney Road]]. These theatres were described in [[Dickens]]'s ''Sketches by Boz'' as lowly spaces with dubious reputations. However, they were later recognised as the training ground for numerous actors of the mid- and late- nineteenth century theatre, who mentioned treading the boards in these private theatres in their memoirs.
[[Category:Britain]]
[[Category:Venues]]

Robert Coates

2026-04-24T10:32:07Z

David Coates: added a performance

{{DynamicInfobox|qid=Q1747746}}
Robert Coates (1772- 21 February 1848) was an amateur actor, who performed in Britain in the early nineteenth century. He was satirised by the press and by cartoonists for his amateur theatrical endeavours and for his interests in fashion.

== Amateur Theatrical Career==
He performed in a number of roles in the early nineteenth century.

==Personal Life==
He was married in 1823 to Emma and had two children.

Robert Coates is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery in London.

== Performances ==

11 September 1812 - A playbill for the Theatre Royal, Richmond, announces that the tragedy of The Fair Penitent will be performed with 'the Part of Lothario by the Celebrated Amateur'. At the end of the play there would also be 'a dissertation on hobbies by the Gentleman who performs Lothario'. We’re also told on the playbill that: ‘The Demand for Places having been greater than was ever known, the Manager, in compliance with the Wish of the Nobility, Gentry, and Public in general, has laid the whole of the PIT into BOXES for this Night only'.

<gallery mode="packed-hover">
File:The Gay Lothario. The Great and Celebrated Amateur of Fashion MET DP818363.jpg|The Gay Lothario: The Great and Celebrated Amateur of Fashion
File:The amateur actor Robert Coates dreaming about his success o Wellcome V0050204.jpg|Satirical image of Robert Coates titled 'An Amateur's Dream'.
File:Bodleian Libraries, Princely piety, or- the worshippers at Wanstead.jpg|Caricature titled 'Princely Piety, or- the Worshippers at Wanstead'. The caricature, by George Cruikshank, depicts suitors wooing a wealthy young heiress. Robert Coates appears in black, to the left of Sir Lumley Skeffington in red, at the foot of the staircase.
File:Robert Coates (actor).jpg|Robert Coates
File:Portrait of Emma Anne Coates (nee Robinson) - DPLA - a50ac6022116e3c100a5fc8af59977ba.jpg|Emma Anne Coates, the wife of Robert Coates
File:Grave of Robert Coates in Kensal Green Cemetery.jpg|Robert Coates's grave in Kensal Green Cemetery, London.
</gallery>
[[Category:Britain]]

Bath Street Subscription Theatre

2026-04-24T10:23:32Z

David Coates:

The Bath Street Subscription Theatre was at 55 Bath Street, City Road, north of the City of London.

A playbill for theatricals on Monday 26 September 1831 tells us that: 'All kind of Stage Dresses lent on hire for public or private performances, on the most reasonable Terms. The Theatre may be engaged for the Night on very low Terms, or Persons wishing to play on private Nights, may apply from 8 to 10 any Evening.’ Tickets could be purchased opposite the theatre in nearby shops, as selling them on site would have been seen as a breach of the law, making the theatre a public one, rather than private, and therefore requiring a licence. The doors of the theatre opened at 6pm and the performances began at 7pm.

=== Performances ===
26 September 1831 Sheridan's ''The Rivals'' and ''The Strolling Actor'' were performed. Between the pieces there was a recitation, a Russian dance, and a song.
[[Category:Venues]]
[[Category:Britain]]

2025-06-16T15:39:20Z

David Coates:

The Royalty Theatre in Dean Street, London, began as Miss Kelly's Theatre in 1840. Built by Fanny Kelly, behind her property in 73 Dean Street, this venue was to be the home of her newly founded dramatic school. Established with the amateur in mind, it is unsurprising that throughout the second half of the nineteenth century, under various different managements and names, this theatre was used by amateur dramatic clubs and societies.

In 1850 the theatre was briefly renamed the New English Opera House.<ref name=":1">Arthur Beales, 'Famous Theatres: The Royalty', in ''Playgoer and Millgate'', 1947, p16-19.</ref>

In 1854/5 the theatre was known as the (Royal) Soho Theatre and was under the lease of Mr Thomas Mowbray and direction of Mr. W. Shirley. Under their management the theatre is increasing advertised to amateurs and they advertise themselves as training pupils for the stage. One newspaper cutting dated 1854 reads: 'This elegant THEATRE will contain 800 persons, and it to be LET nightly for dramatic performances, concerts, &c. Ladies and gentlemen wishing to make the stage their profession will here find every facility for acquiring the necessary information - in short, this establishment supplies a long looked for desideratum, and is the only recognised Dramatic School in the metropolis'.

In 1861 it was reconstructed and renamed The New Royalty, reopening under the management of the actress Mrs Selby.<ref name=":0">Mander and Mitchenson, ''London's Lost Theatres''. </ref>

In 1875 Gilbert and Sullivan's ''Trial by Jury'' premiered at the Royalty.<ref name=":1" /> Ibsen's ''Ghosts'' was first performed at this venue by invitation on 13 March 1891 by J. T. Grein's newly founded Independent Theatre, which said that its object was 'to give special performances of plays which have a literary and artistic, rather than a commercial value'.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Michael Orme in her book on J. T. Grein</ref> The Independent Theatre made experimental performances for the New Royalty Theatre from 1891 until 1897. Brandon Thomas's ''Charley's Aunt'' premiered at this theatre on 21 December 1892.<ref name=":0" />

The theatre was regularly changing hands. Arthur Bourchier began a tenancy of the theatre in 1895. Mrs Patrick Campbell took over the house in 1900.<ref name=":2">New Royalty Theatre Souvenir of Inauguration, 4 January 1906. </ref>

In 1906, the theatre was reopened after being enlarged and remodelled and was now under the lesseeship of Kate Santley.<ref name=":2" />

The theatre closed down shortly before WWII.<ref name=":0" />

== Performances ==
1845, 20 September - Charles Dickens presented his amateur theatricals at Miss Kelly's Theatre with the cast including Douglas Jerrold, Mark Lemon, John Forster and John Leech. They performed ''Every Man in his Humour'' followed by ''A Good Night's Rest; or, Two in the Morning''. Cards of invitation had to be presented at the theatre to gain entrance to the venue and evening dress was required.

1854, 25 January - The Players (established 1852) have a performance in aid of their own funds. They perform ''Heir at Law'' and ''Honey Moon''. At the bottom of the playbill they announce the society's next performance as being on 22 February 1854. The cast includes Mr Vivian, Mr Bertram Palmer, Mr Felton, Mr Mowbray, Mr Shirley and others.

1854, 3 March - Performances take place for 'Mr Stanley's Night' and the playbills and practices are strikingly similar to those of the earlier private theatres and dramatic institutions. This could be an amateur performance and is made up of ''The Wife'' and ''Stage Struck''.

1854, 11 March - 'A Dramatic Evening' is advertised, 'under the direction of Mr Vivian on which occasion, we are told, he will be assisted by several distinguished Amateurs'. The performances are of the two-act comedy ''The Follies of a Night'', the comic drama ''Used Up'' and the farce ''Stage Struck''. Attendees are asked to wear evening dress.

1854, 19 April - The St James's Dramatic Company (established 1845) host their sixth and last performance of the season, which was in aid of the funds of the society. They perform the two-act comedy ''My Wife's Daughter'', Morton's comedy compressed into three acts ''Speed the Plough'' and the second act of Sheridan's ''The Critic; or, A Tragedy Rehearsed.'' The Honorary Secretary of the Society is listed as Mr George Terry.

1854, 2 May - A performance 'in aid of the funds being raised with a view to assist a professional lady, formerly on the stage, but without assistance from the Theatrical Funds' with a cast that seems likely to be amateur including 'a Lady'. They perform ''The Stranger'', ''The Married Rake'' and ''The Rendezvous''.

1854, 20 May - Printers' Dramatic Society amateur performance of ''Much Ado About Nothing'', an address in three tableaux and Douglas Jerrold's ''The Rent Day''. There was also a pianoforte solo, some imitations of popular actors and some dances. There is a notice to say that the events are in aid of the printers' almshouses and the Printers' Pension Society Committee.

1854, 6 June - A performance for the benefit of Mr Charles Southwell . The playbill tells us that his Iago 'has been pronounced by eminent critics as unsurpassed by any other living Actor on the English Stage'. The playbill does not contain the word 'amateur' though it has the look and feel of an amateur theatrical playbill. Charles Southwell could be the freethinker, radical and journalist of that name.

1854, 18 July - An amateur performance is advertised for the benefit of the association in aid of the wives and families, widows and orphans, of soldiers ordered on active service. They perform ''Hamlet'' followed by the two-act farce ''Fortune's Frolic'', in which Mowbray is the only name advertised on the poster. The cast of Hamlet is Mr Charles Vincent, Mr Betterton, Mr Sterry, Mr Haywel, Mr H. Temple, Mr Somers, Mr Edgar Dillon, Mr Winchester, Mr Moreton, Mr Mowbray, Mr Deane, Mr Shirley, Miss Arnold, Miss Wade, and Miss E. Wade.

1854, 24 November - The St James's Dramatic Society have their first performance of the season. They perform the drama ''Lucille; or, The Story of a Heart'' followed by the comedy in three acts, ''The Serious Family''. The playbill makes clear that there will be 'no money taken at the doors' and that children in arms are unable to attend. A plot and scene summary of the production are in the collection. These are likely the work of Mr Shirley, who acts as the Stage Manager for these performances.

1854, 1 December - An amateur performance in air of the patriotic fund is announced. The names of the pieces are announced, along with the character names, but the amateur actors are not named. They perform the farce ''Perfection; or, The Lady of Munster'', ''The Windmill'', and the screamer ''The Wandering Minstrel''.

1854, 16 December - A benefit for the Caxton Fund for the relief of old and decayed printers, in connection with the Printer's Pension Society. They perform Mark Lemon's two-act drama ''Honesty the Best Policy'', Lemen Rede's farce ''His First Champagne'', and the burlesque in one act of ''Othello''.

1855, 3 January - The Allied Amateurs gave their first dramatic performance which consisted of Planche's comedietta ''The Loan of a Love''r, followed by Buckstone's farce ''The Dead Shot'', followed by a farce by Messrs. Soutar junior and Claridge titled ''The Fast Coach''. The performers are listed as Mr Frank Fairleigh, Mr Philip Ingham, Mr Astour, Mr Alfred, Miss Ingham, Miss Adeline Cottrell, Mr Adolphus Jerningham, Mr Singleton, Miss Cottrell, Mr Murray and Miss Astour. We are told on the playbill that Mr Astour is the Stage Manager and Mr. P. Ingham is the treasurer while Mr Sigleton is the Secretary, from whom tickets could be purchase at 19 Great Queen street, Lincoln's Inn Fields.

1855, 5 January - The London Sheridan Amateur Dramatic Society announce their second performance, which will be Bulwer Lytton's ''The Lady of Lyons''. This was followed by Charles Dance's comic drama ''Delicate Ground''. The performers were messrs James, H. Villiers, J. C. Villiers, Shirley, Jackson, Edwards, Stanmore, Evans, Anderson, Williams, Wilson, Betterton and H Villiers. Women were Mrs Newberry, Miss Emily Sidney, Miss E. Wade, Miss Wheeler and Miss Henderson. The advertising poster lists [[L&H Nathan|Nathan]] as the costumier and Clarkson as the perruquier.

1855, 23 January - The grand opera Maritana was performed by members of the London Operatic Society. It is unclear whether this is an amateur or professional company. It was for the benefit of Mrs Pyne Galton who was returning to the musical profession after the death of her husband in 1852.

1855, 24 January - The St James's Dramatic Society (established 1845) perform their third event of the season, which on this occasion is in aid of the funds of the society. They perform ''Don Caesar de Bazan'', ''Variety is Charming!'' and the farce ''Diamond Cut Diamond''!. The performances start at 7pm and will end by 11pm. They note that children in arms will not be admitted, that W. Shirley is the Stage Manager, T. K. Gough is the Musical Director, Clarkson the Perruquier and [[L&H Nathan|Nathan]] the Costumier. The Honorary Secretary of the Society is James Willoughby and the performers are: Mr H. Frost, Mr West, Mr Charles Vincent, Mr dale, Miss Arnold, Mr Villiers, Mr Irvine, Mr Edwards, Mr Hazel, Miss Sidney, Mrs Newberry, Mr Mowbray, Miss Wade, Miss E. Wade, Miss Julia Hammerton, Mr Sterry, Mr Howe and Mr Rooke.

1855, 13 February - The Piano-Forte Makers' Dramatic Benevolent Society perform ''Rent Day'', ''His First Champagn''e and ''The Lottery Ticket''. There is a list of 20-30 men from whom tickets could be bought alongside their addresses.

1855, 9 March - Performances of ''Othello'' and ''Stage Struck'' - the latter including Mowbray and Shirley. These could be amateur performances.

1855, 12 March - The Theatre Francais Association Dramatique advertise a performance for the benefit of the widows and orphans of British soldiers ordered to the East. This could be amateur but it is not clear.

1855, 19 April - The St James's Dramatic Society give a performance in aid of their own funds. They perform ''The Creole; or Love's Fetters'', ''Cousin Lambkin'' and ''The Boots at the Swan''. Both Shirley and Mowbray appear with the company.

1855, 10 May - A 'Grand Amateur Performance' is advertised and consists of three parts: ''Charles the Second; or, The Merry Monarch'', ''Delicate Ground; or, Paris in 1793'' and ''Who's Your Friend? or, The Queensbury Fete''. It is announced that several; 'distinguished gentlemen amateurs' will appear, listing Captain Horton Rhys, [[Captain Disney Roebuck]], Captain Love Jones Parry, J. Forsyth Gregory Esq, Howard Fenwick Esq., W. G. Owen Esq. and W. Sheridan Esq., though H Sandeman Esq is also appearing. They are supported by actresses - Miss Jane Glover, Miss Julia Glover and Miss Helen Love. Captain Horton Rhys also sang between the acts.

1855, 15 October - The Piano-Forte Makers' Dramatic Benevolent Society return to perform Mark Lemon's ''Hearts and Trumps,'' the farce ''Irish Tutor'' and ''Charles the Second''. The playbill lists a number of gentleman from whom tickets could be purchased.

1856, 14 May - A grand amateur performance under the direction of Madame Louise. The pieces advertised are Sheridan Knowles's ''The Hunchback'' and the comic drama, adopted from the French by Charles Selby, called ''The Husband of my Heart''. The cast includes Bertram Palmer.

1856, 20 December - An amateur dramatic company is to perform ''Still Waters Run Deep'' and the farce ''Amateurs and Actors''.

1858, 27 April - A select amateur performance in aid of the funds of Brompton Consumption Hospital. The 'Director' is Mr Charles Hillier. The production is arranged by the Pimlico Dramatic Class. Fredeick Sullivan is in the cast - brother of Arthur Sullivan, who went on to become a professional actor. They perform ''The Lady of Lyons'', ''A Thumping Legacy'' and ''The Omnibus''.

185(8?), 1 October - A benefit for Miss Augusta Vernon of the Theatre Royal Haymarket is held with support from members of the Haymarket Company and of the Printer's Dramatic Society. They perform ''As You Like It'', ''Day After the Wedding'' and ''Loan of a Lover''.

1858, 7 September - The Operative Dramatic Society of the Royal Princess's Theatre performed Charles Macklin's five-act comedy ''The Man of the World'', followed by a sketch called ''Lucy Long'', the farcetta ''But However!'' and Buckstone's three-act comedy ''Married Life''.

1865, 22 December - The fourth private amateur dramatic entertainment of the Philadelphian society. A occasional prologue has been written for the occasion by Mrs Mary Cowden Clarke. They performed the one-act comedietta ''A Winning Hazard'' and Sheridan's five-act comedy ''The School for Scandal''. The programme for the event advertises the annual private ball of the society at Willis's Rooms on 24 January 1866.

Royalty Theatre

2025-06-16T15:23:54Z

David Coates: added performances

Royalty Theatre

2025-06-16T15:16:05Z

David Coates:

Royalty Theatre

2025-06-16T15:08:32Z

David Coates: added performance

Royalty Theatre

2025-06-16T14:37:46Z

David Coates: add citations

Royalty Theatre

2025-06-16T14:03:50Z

David Coates: added dickens performance