Theatre, Birmingham 1798-9. A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. CCORDING to Hutton, the first theatrical performances in Birmingham were given by strollers, who used a wood shed, in the fields upon the site now occupied by Temple Street. Afterwards, the performers' booth was removed to the Hinkleys, then a district of green fields. Later the amusements of the stage being more appreciated-the performances took place in a stable in Castle Street, where the comedians fluttered in painted rags, ornamented with tinsel, and the audience had a good hearty laugh at the cost of threepence a head. But, in 1740, a theatre was erected in Moor Street. This was probably a booth on a somewhat larger scale; but at that time the comedian beat up for the audience by distributing his bills of fare in the streets, or at the many taverns-not, however, very successfully. Things, however, improved, and in 1751 a company arrived: "His Majesty's the servants from the Theatres Royal in London"-they "hoped the public would excuse the ceremony of the drum, as beneath the dignity of a London company." (The beating of a drum display of the performers in front of the booth was the usual introduction to performances of strolling players). The London company met with much success, and the interest of the inhabitants was vastly excited thereby. So much so, that another theatre was erected in King Street. This was one too many, so that in Moor Street was closed. The King Street building was then enlarged, so that it had few equals. At the same time, another theatre was erected in New Street (on the present site), richly decorated, without regard to cost. Afterwards, in 1780, a superb portico was erected, and then it was pronounced "one of the finest theatres in Europe." The illustration--a reproduction from an old engraving in Hutton's well-known history-justifies the praise given to it. The title, as will be seen from the illustration, was the "Birmingham Theatre." It was not till 1807 that an Act of Parliament gave to Birmingham a Theatre Royal. Up to that date all theatres in Birmingham were illegal. That the people resented this was shown. A petition was presented to Parliament in 1777, for leave to bring in a bill to license the New Street establishment. Leave being obtained, the bill was introduced in the House of Commons; a short debate took place, in which Edmund Burke made the famous reference-I quote the full sentence. Burke was urging the right of Birmingham to have a license; he said, "Birmingham asks for a four months' license only. Birmingham Theatre will be under the direction of a man very eminent in his profession of a comedian; who, in London, gives the most elegant entertainment in Europe, and who never has been or ever wishes to be there but during the time the theatres in Drury Lane and Covent Garden are shut up in the summer. I look upon Birmingham to be the great Toy-shop of Europe, and submit it to the members of the Honourable House to consider if Birmingham on that account is not the most proper place in England to have a licensed house." In spite of Burke's advocacy, the bill was rejected by a majority of fiftyone-only eighteen members voting for it. Not securing the license must have had a somewhat depressing effect upon the finances of the theatre. Occupied only four months a year, the exchequer must often have been at a very low ebb. Of the performers: they are but names, all forgotten; of the entertainments: miscellaneous in character, they occasionally led to riot. The management, however, struggled along till a calamity overtook them they were unable to bear. Several attempts had been made to fire the theatre; and on the morning of August 17th the theatre was burnt down. The proprietors offered a reward to Laft Night but Two. THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM. This present WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12, 1798, will be presented, The favourite COMEDY of The The Contraft; or, Nature and Art, By Mr. PLATT, Mr. DYKE, the Mifs DENNYS, and Mrs. FREDERICK. FANTOCCINI, Particularly the GLADIATOR, OPERA DANCERS, SAILOR, and FIDLER. Thursday, the Play of the Stranger, with the Petite Piece of Blue Devils, and the Pantomime Enter tainment of Harlequin Shepherd, THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM. On MONDAY, June 24, 1799, will be presented, (Second Time) That very popular NEW COMEDY, in Three A&ts, called The BIRTH DAY. Tranflated from the German of Kotzebue, by Mr. DIBDIN, and performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, upwards of Fifty Nights, laft Seafon, with unbounded Applaufe. The Part of Captain Bertram by Mr. MUNDEN, Mr. HARLEY, Mr. TOWNSEND, Mr. Bertram, Jack Junk, Harry Bertram, Lawyer Circuit, William, Mrs. Moral, Ann, And Emma, Mr. HALPIN, Mr. EGERTON, Mrs. JOHNSON. After which, a COMIC OPERA (acted here but once) called FALSE and TRUE. The MUSIC by Dr. ARNOLD.-The new SCENERY by Mr. WHITMORE, particularly a VIEW of Naples Bay & Mount Vefuvius, WITH THE REPRESENTATION OF INCIDENTA! TO THE PIECE, Mrs. ILIFF. A GRAND GALA, Brilliant Illumination, and Dance. End of the Opera, Mr. WEST's New DANCE, called Hearts of Oak, or the Sailors Revels. (THE MUSIC BY MR. DIBDIN.) Sailors, Meffrs. EVANS, QUANTRIL, WILKINS, &c. &c. Sailors Laffes, Mrs. QUANTRIL, Mrs. WHITMORE, and the Mifs BRUGUIERS. In this Dance will be introduced, Weft's celebrated HORNPIPE, as originally performed by him at Drury Lane Theatre. To conclude with the Mufical PIECE, in one A&t, called, THE WATERMAN. The Part of Robin (the Macaroni Gardener) with the Song of Tippy Bob, by Mr. MUNDEN, ttt Due Notice will be given of the next Reprefentation of the few and the Doctor, which was received on Wednesday Evening with fuch univerfal Approbation. The new Comedy of Laugh when you Can, is in Preparation, and will be brought forward the enfuing Week. gagement here this Seafon. THEATRE. BIRMINGHAM. On MONDAY, June 1799, will be revived, A COMEDY (not acted here thefe Ten Years) called THE BROTHERS. (Written by RICHARD CUMBERLAND, Eją.) The Part of Sir Benjamin Dove by Mr. QUICK, Captain Ironfides, Mr. HARLEY, Mr. M'CREADY, Mr. HALPIN, Mr. DAY, Mr. EVANS. Mrs. M'CREADY, Mrs. SMITH, Mrs. TOWNSEND, Mifs SMITH, Mrs. POWELL. I A8 1-A REPRESENTATION OF A Tempestuous Sea, and a Shipwreck. To which will be added (firft Time) a PANTOMIME ENTERTAINMENT (the Business entirely new, compofed by Mr. WEST) called THE ELOPEMENT; Or, The Regions of Fancy. In which will be introduced a Variety of Machinery, Scenery, Mechanical Changes, Transfo:mations, &c. &c. Particularly Mr. Whitmore's View of the SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE.---A DISTANT HILLY COUNTRY. The SHEPHERDS unfolding their SHEEP, which are feen difperfing, and grazing up and down the HILLS. An Hogfhead that changes to a Tree. The Sea to a Corn-Field, Plough, &c.Tower to a Ship, and The BOWER of BLISS, Mifs SMITH, And Zany (the Clown)Mr. WEST. To conclude with a New COTILLION, by, the Characters, compofed by Mr. Wasг. Nights of performing, MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY and FRIDAY. The Doors will be opened at Six, and begin precifely at Seven o'clock.-BOXES, PIT, 2s. 6d. GALLERY, 18. TICKETS for the BOXES and PIT, and PLACES to be taken of Mr. SANDERSON, Box Book-keeper, at the Stage Door, in, Queen-Street, every Day from Ten to Two o'clock.-TICKETS alfo to be had Mr. PEARSON's, in the High Street. Servants, who are to keep Places, are defired to be at the Stage Door Quarter before Six o'clock. Nothing under FULL PRICE can be taken, nor ANY PERSON admitted behind the Scenes On Wednesday, Mrs. JOHNSON, from the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, will make her firfl Appearance here in the Character of Mifs Dorrilan, in the Comedy of Wives as they Were; the Part of Lord Priory by Mr. QUICK; with the Farce of Modern Antiques, the Part of Old Cockletop by Mr. QUICK, and Jory, Mr. TOWNSEND. |