Garrick Theatre (Leman St)
Encyclopedia
The Garrick Theatre, also known as Garrick's Subscription was a small theatre located in Leman St, Whitechapel
. The theatre opened in 1831, and closed in about 1881. The theatre was named for the actor, David Garrick
, who had made his début at the nearby Goodman's Fields Theatre
on 9 October 1741, playing the role of Richard III
.
The performance on 11 May 1840 was Marie! and Virginius the Rum’un!, from an existent playbill. The plays were probably melodramas and some indication of the fare available at the time.
The first theatre burned down in 1846, and was rebuilt to open in 1851, as The Albert and Garrick Royal Amphitheatre. From 1854, it was under the management of Lawrence Levy until 1864. He returned to manage the theatre between 1867 and 1868. In 1856 E.B. Gaston was Stage Manager. The second theatre had a capacity of 462, although when Lawrence Levy put the theatre up for sale in 1866-1868, he claimed it "will hold 1,600 persons" and "can be made to hold 2,500", and then in 1868 was claiming "Was built for a circus" and "Holds 1,700 persons; can be made for 8,000".
A young Barney Barnato
is reputed to have begged pass outs from theatre leavers, to sell them on to others for a halfpenny
After actor-manager J. B. Howe's bankruptcy
in 1875, the theatre remained empty until 1879. Actress-manageress May Bulmer then ran the theatre until it was demolished, having a personal success in the light opera A Cruise to China. The site of the theatre is today occupied by the old Leman Street Police Station, built in 1891.
Whitechapel
Whitechapel is a built-up inner city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England. It is located east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Fashion Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and The Highway on the...
. The theatre opened in 1831, and closed in about 1881. The theatre was named for the actor, David Garrick
David Garrick
David Garrick was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of theatrical practice throughout the 18th century and was a pupil and friend of Dr Samuel Johnson...
, who had made his début at the nearby Goodman's Fields Theatre
Goodman's Fields Theatre
Two 18th century theatres bearing the name Goodman's Fields Theatre were located on Ayliffe Street, Whitechapel, London. The first opened on 31 October 1727 in a small shop by Thomas Odell, deputy Licenser of Plays. The first play performed was George Farquhar's The Recruiting Officer. Henry...
on 9 October 1741, playing the role of Richard III
Richard III (play)
Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
.
The performance on 11 May 1840 was Marie! and Virginius the Rum’un!, from an existent playbill. The plays were probably melodramas and some indication of the fare available at the time.
The first theatre burned down in 1846, and was rebuilt to open in 1851, as The Albert and Garrick Royal Amphitheatre. From 1854, it was under the management of Lawrence Levy until 1864. He returned to manage the theatre between 1867 and 1868. In 1856 E.B. Gaston was Stage Manager. The second theatre had a capacity of 462, although when Lawrence Levy put the theatre up for sale in 1866-1868, he claimed it "will hold 1,600 persons" and "can be made to hold 2,500", and then in 1868 was claiming "Was built for a circus" and "Holds 1,700 persons; can be made for 8,000".
A young Barney Barnato
Barney Barnato
Barney Barnato , born Barnet Isaacs, was a British Randlord, one of the entrepreneurs who gained control of diamond mining, and later gold mining, in South Africa from the 1870s.-Background:...
is reputed to have begged pass outs from theatre leavers, to sell them on to others for a halfpenny
After actor-manager J. B. Howe's bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
in 1875, the theatre remained empty until 1879. Actress-manageress May Bulmer then ran the theatre until it was demolished, having a personal success in the light opera A Cruise to China. The site of the theatre is today occupied by the old Leman Street Police Station, built in 1891.