Rawstorne Place Amateur Theatre

The Amateur Theatre in Rawstorne Place, Rawstorne Street, south of Angel, London, was active as a private theatre for amateurs in the 1820 and 1830s. 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.

The first mention of the theatre comes from a news cutting in December 1822 reporting on activities at the Worship Street law court. The theatre had been found with 150 persons present and although the case was dismissed, the owner, Mr Bismere, was advised not to continue this activity as it likely breathe the law.

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.