Ariadne was the pseudonym of a "Young Lady" who wrote the play ''

She Ventures and He Wins ''She Ventures and He Wins'' (1696) is a comedy in five acts written by a "Young Lady" under the pseudonym of "Ariadne". The author, who is referred to by most documents and historians by her pseudonym, caused an uproar between the theaters of th ...

'', which was first performed at The New Theatre in its 1694-95 season. Little is known of her, however she was likely a novice writer who was "keenly aware of theatrical conventions and the politics of the theater". In the preface to her play, Ariadne says that she is not "altogether unacquainted with the Stage". Then, in her prologue, she attacks the owners of a rival theatre, saying that they "out of spite / Trump'd up a Play upon us in a Night", suggesting that she was at least some way involved with the theatre world of 17th century London. The play was a failure, closing after just two nights. It was, however, the first play written by a woman to be performed in London for 20 years, with the exception of works by

Aphra Behn Aphra Behn (; bapt. 14 December 1640 – 16 April 1689) was an English playwright, poet, prose writer and translator from the Restoration era. As one of the first English women to earn her living by her writing, she broke cultural barrie ...

who had died six years before its production. Ariadne praises Behn in both the Preface and in the Prologue. Despite its failure on the stage, the play went on to be published in 1696. Critics and researchers have debated the identity of Ariadne. Some suggest that Ariadne was really

Mary Pix Mary Pix (1666 – 17 May 1709) was an English novelist and playwright. As an admirer of Aphra Behn and colleague of Susanna Centlivre, Pix has been called "a link between women writers of the Restoration and Augustan periods". Early years M ...

, but there is little evidence to support this suggestion. Another believes that Ariadne was also the author of ''Love's Reward: or, the Unnatural Mother''.

References

{{Authority control 17th-century English writers 17th-century English women writers 17th-century pseudonymous writers Pseudonymous women writers