Sarah Siddons was a Welsh actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century. Contemporaneous critic William Hazlitt dubbed Siddons as "tragedy personified".
George Stephen Kemble was a successful English theatre manager, actor, and writer, and a member of the famous Kemble family. He was described as "the best Sir John Falstaff which the British stage ever saw" though he also played title roles in Hamlet and King Lear among others. He published plays, poetry and non-fiction.
Roger Kemble was an English theatre manager, strolling player and actor. In 1753, he married Irish actress Sarah "Sally" Ward (1735–1806) at Cirencester in Gloucestershire, and they had thirteen children, who formed the Kemble family of 19th-century actors and actresses.
John Bell (1745–1831) was an English publisher. Originally a bookseller and printer, he also innovated in typography, commissioning an influential font that omitted the long s. He drew the reading public to better literature by ordering attractive art to accompany the printed work.
The Carmelite is a 1784 tragedy by the British writer Richard Cumberland. It was first staged at the Drury Lane Theatre on 2 December 1784. The play's hero Saint-Valori disguises himself as a Carmelite. The original cast included Sarah Siddons as Matilda, William Smith as Saint Valori, John Palmer as Lord Hildebrand, John Philip Kemble as Montgomeri, James Aickin as Lord De Courci, John Hayman Packer as Gyfford, John Phillimore as Fitzallan and John Fawcett as Raymond. The play enjoyed some success, and was later staged at a theatre in Belfast where Wolfe Tone saw it in 1791.
Harriet Siddons, sometimes known as Mrs Henry Siddons, was a Scottish actress and theatre manager.
The School for Friends is an 1805 comedy play by the British writer Marianne Chambers. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 10 December 1805. The Drury Lane cast featured Robert William Elliston as Lord Belmour, Richard Wroughton as Sir Felix Mordant, William Barrymore as Sir Edward Epworth, William Dowton as Mr. Hardy, Charles Mathews as Matthew Daw, Walter Maddocks as Landlord, Jane Pope as Lady Courtland, Dorothea Jordan as Mrs. Hamilton, Harriet Siddons as Miss Emily, Harriet Mellon as Lucy and Charlotte Tidswell as Sarah. The prologue was written by James Kenney. It appeared for 25 performances on its initial run.
The Vindictive Man is an 1806 comedy play by the British writer Thomas Holcroft.
The Curfew is a historical tragedy by the British writer John Tobin which was first published in 1807, three years after the author's death. It was staged by Richard Brinsley Sheridan at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London premiering on 19 February 1807. The cast included William Barrymore as Hugh de Tracy, John Bannister as Robert, Henry Siddons as Bertrand, William Penley as Walter, Robert William Elliston as Fitzharding, Edmund John Eyre as Philip, Jane Powell as Matilda and Maria Duncan as Florence. It appeared at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin on 1 April the same year. It is set during the Norman era.
Faulkener is an 1807 historical tragedy by the British writer William Godwin. The play premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 16 December 1807. The cast included Robert Elliston as Faulkener, Henry Siddons as Stanley, Harriet Siddons as Lauretta, Jack Palmer as Benedetto, William Powell as Orsini and Jane Powell as Arabella.
Grieving's a Folly is an 1809 comedy play by the British writer Richard Leigh. It premiered on 21 April 1809 at the Lyceum Theatre in London, which was being used the Drury Lane company while their own theatre was being rebuilt after a fire. The cast included Henry Siddons as Mr Herbert, Harriet Siddons as Ellen, William Dowton as Sir Oliver Cypress, William Powell as Belford, John Bannister as Crape, John Henry Johnstone as O'Harrolan, Charles Mathews as Joe Thresher, Walter Maddocks as Jonathon, Jane Powell as Mrs Mordaunt and Frances Maria Kelly as Susan Woodburn. The prologue was written and spoken by Edmund John Eyre. It enjoyed a successful run and was published by Longmans the same year. A second play by Leigh Where to Find a Friend was performed by the company in 1811.
The World in a Village is a 1793 comedy play by the Irish writer John O'Keeffe. It was staged at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in London on 23 November 1793. The original cast included John Powell as Sir Henry Check, John Henry Johnstone as Captain Mullinahack, James Middleton as William Bellevue, Joseph George Holman as Charles, Thomas Hull as Willows, William Cubitt as Captain Vanslueisen, William Macready as Briers, John Fawcett as Master Jack, William Thomas Lewis as Grigsby, Joseph Shepherd Munden as Jollyboy, Harriet Pye Esten as Louisa, Isabella Mattocks as Mrs Allbut and Susan Fawcett as Mrs. Bellevue. It's Irish premiere took place at the Crow Street Theatre on 25 November 1794.
The Bank Note: Or Lessons for Ladies is a 1795 comedy play by the Irish writer and actor William Macready the Elder. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in London on 1 May 1795. The original cast included Macready as Lieutenant Selby, Joseph George Holman as Sir Charles Leslie, James Middleton as Bloomfield, Thomas Hull as Father, John Fawcett as Ned Dash, John Quick as Hale, John Henry Johnstone as Killeavy, Edward Townsend as Tim, Elizabeth Hopkins as Miss Emma Hale, Isabella Mattocks as Mrs Bloomfield, Mary Ann Davenport as Lady Supple and Tryphosa Jane Wallis as Miss Russel. The Irish premiere took at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin on 22 April 1796 Its plot draws inspiration from William Taverner's The Artful Husband as well as other earlier plays.
Notoriety is a 1791 comedy play by the British writer Frederick Reynolds. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden on in London on 5 November 1791. The original cast included William Thomas Lewis as Nominal, John Quick as Colonel Hubbub, Richard Wilson as Sir Andrew Acid, Joseph Shepherd Munden as Lord Jargon, William Farren as Clairville, Charles Farley as James, John Henry Johnstone as O'Whack, Mrs Webb as Lady Acid, Mary Wells as Sophia Strangways and Harriet Pye Esten as Honoria.
Adelaide is an 1800 historical tragedy by the English writer and poet laureate Henry James Pye. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 25 January 1800. The original cast included Sarah Siddons as Adelaide, James Aickin as King Henry, John Philip Kemble as Prince Richard, William Barrymore as Prince John, Charles Kemble as Clifford, Thomas Cory as Legate and Walter Maddocks as Officer and Elizabeth Heard as Emma. It is set during the reign of Henry II.
A Prior Claim is an 1805 comedy play by the English writer and poet laureate Henry James Pye and Samuel James Arnold. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 29 October 1805. The original cast included William Dowton as Sir William Freeman, Vincent De Camp as Young Freeman, Robert William Elliston as Henry Mortimer, William Barrymore as Colonel Raymond, Robert Palmer as Lounger, John Henry Johnstone as Patrick O'Shatter, Maria Rebecca Davison as Maria, Harriet Siddons as Emily and Maria Theresa Kemble as Fanny. It was Pye's third play to be staged and marked a break from his two previous works, the historical tragediesThe Siege of Meaux (1794) and Adelaide (1800).
Hearts of Oak is an 1803 comedy play by the English writer John Till Allingham. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 19 November 1803. The original Drury Lane cast included William Dowton as Ardent, Alexander Pope as Dorland, John Bannister as Tenpercent, Vincent De Camp as Edward, Charles Holland as Philip, Thomas Collins as Joe, George Frederick Cooke as Jerard, John Henry Johnstone as Brian O'Bradleigh, Jane Powell as Eliza, Nannette Johnston as Laura, Sarah Harlowe as Fanny and Sarah Sparks as Mrs O'Bradleigh.
The Three Per Cents is an 1803 comedy play by the British writer Frederick Reynolds. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden on 12 November 1803. The original cast included George Frederick Cooke as Sandy McTack, John Fawcett as George McTack, Joseph Shepherd Munden as Sir Peter Presser, Charles Kemble as Colonel Dorimant, Charles Murray as Major Seymour, Samuel Simmons as Pallet, Charles Farley as Witling, Maria Gibbs as Lady Delamere and Harriet Siddons as Rosalie. The title refers to consols, a form of financial investment in the British national debt which returned three percent interest.
Life is an 1800 comedy play by the British writer Frederick Reynolds. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in London on 1 November 1800. The Irish premiere took place at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin on 20 January 1801. The original Covent Garden cast included William Thomas Lewis as Sir Harry Torpid, Joseph Shepherd Munden as Paul Primitive, John Fawcett as Lackbrain, John Emery as Crafty, Charles Farley as Jack Clifford, Charles Murray as Marchmont, Frances Chapman as Mrs Belford, Catherine St Ledger as Mrs Decoy and Harriet Siddons as Rosa Marchmont.
The School for Prejudice is an 1801 comedy play by the English writer Thomas John Dibdin. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in London on 3 January 1801. The original cast included Joseph Shepherd Munden as Old Liberal, William Thomas Lewis as Frank Liberal, John Fawcett as Ephraim, Charles Murray as Counsellor Friendly, Henry Erskine Johnston as Mildmay, John Emery as John Grouse, Charles Farley as Chevy Chase, Samuel Simmons as Parchment, George Davenport as Landlord, Frances Chapman as Mrs Howard, Harriet Siddons as Marian and Mary Ann Davenport as Miss Liberal. The Irish premiere took place at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin on 19 February 1802.
