1642. Plays suppressed by the Puritans. 1647. Demolition of all theatres ordered by Parliament. 1656. Mrs. Coleman, the first female on the London stage, performed Ianthe. 1660-61. Under date January 3, Samuel Pepys wrote in his Diary "To the Theatre, where was acted 'Beggars' Bush'" (by Beaumont and Fletcher), "it being very well done; and here the first time that ever I saw women come upon the Stage." 1662. April 25. Killigrew's patent for Drury Lane, and Sir W. Davenant's for the Duke's Theatre. All female characters henceforward represented by women. 1663. April 8. First known playbill, Drury Lane Theatre, The Humourous Lieutenant. Bills are said to have been printed as early as 1633, but no copies are extant. 1672. Drury Lane burnt down in January, rebuilt by Sir C. Wren, and reopened March 26, 1674. 1695. Lincoln's Inn Theatre opened. 1702. Haymarket Theatre built. 1705. Italian Opera House opened. 1716. First pantomime performed in England at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre, December. 1741. David Garrick's first appearance in London, at Goodman's Fields, as Richard III., Oct. 19. 1742. Garrick's début at Drury Lane Theatre. 1749. "Bottle Conjuror" riot, Haymarket Theatre, Jan. 16. 1763. "Half price at nine o'clock" sanctioned by David Garrick. 1765. Sadlers Wells Theatre opened. 1773. Astley's Amphitheatre opened. 1776. Garrick's farewell performance, June 10. 1779. David Garrick died. 1805. The tailors' riot at Haymarket Theatre, Aug. 15. 1806. Adelphi Theatre opened Nov. 27. Formerly called the Sans Pareil. 1806. Olympic Theatre opened with horsemanship, Sept. 18. 1808. Sept. 20. Covent Garden Theatre burnt, rebuilt, and reopened Sept. 1809, when the O. P. riots occurred. 1809. Lyceum opened as a theatre, built 1795. 1809. February 24. Drury Lane Theatre burnt, rebuilt, and reopened Oct. 10, 1812. 1830. Lyceum burnt Feb. 16, rebuilt, and reopened July 14, 1834. 1831. Strand Theatre opened. 1834. The present Lyceum Theatre opened, July 14. 1835. St. James's Theatre opened, Dec. 14. 1840. Princess's Theatre, Oxford Street, opened. 1842. Marylebone Theatre opened. 1856. March 5, Covent Garden Theatre burnt down, rebuilt, and reopened May 15, 1858. 1861. First appearance at the Haymarket Theatre of Mr. E. A. Sothern as "Lord Dundreary," Nov. 11. 1863. New Royalty, Soho, opened, Aug. 31. 1866. Holborn Theatre opened, Oct. 6. 1867. Italian Opera House, Haymarket, burnt down, Dec. 6. 1868. New Globe Theatre, Strand, opened, Nov. 27. 1869. Charing Cross Theatre (now Toole's) opened, June 19. 1870. Vaudeville Theatre opened, April 16. 1870. Opera Comique, Strand, opened, Oct. 1871. Court Theatre opened, Jan. 25. This was pulled down, and a new house built near the same spot, opened Sept. 1888. 1871. Alhambra Palace first opened as a theatre, April 24. 1876. Aquarium Theatre opened by Mr. Edgar Bruce, April 15. 1879. East London Theatre burnt, March 16. 1880. Duke's Theatre, Holborn, burnt, July 5. 1881. Park Theatre, Camden Town, burnt, September 11. 1881. Comedy Theatre, Panton Street, opened. 1881. Savoy Theatre opened with Patience (by Sullivan and Gilbert), Oct. 10. 1882. Savoy Theatre lighted by electricity throughout, Jan. 4. 1882. Novelty Theatre opened, December 9. 1883. Grand Theatre, Islington, opened, Aug. 4. Theatre 1884. Prince's (now Prince of Wales's) opened by Mr. Edgar Bruce, 1885. Last night of the Bancroft management at Haymarket, July 20. 1887. Terry's Theatre opened, Oct. 17. 1888. New Court Theatre opened, Sept. 24. 1889. Garrick Theatre opened by Mr. John Hare, April 24, with Mr. A. W. Pinero's The Profligate. 1889. Mr. E. L. Blanchard, highly respected dramatic author and critic, died Sept. 4. |