Lisle's Tennis Court was a building off Portugal Street in

Lincoln's Inn Fields Lincoln's Inn Fields is the List of city squares by size, largest public square in London. It was laid out in the 1630s under the initiative of the speculative builder and contractor William Newton, "the first in a long series of entreprene ...

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

. Originally built as a

real tennis Real tennis – one of several games sometimes called "the sport of kings" – is the original racquet sport from which the modern game of tennis (also called "lawn tennis") is derived. It is also known as court tennis in the United St ...

court, it was used as a

playhouse ''Playhouse'' (german: Schauspielhaus) is a common term for a theatre. Specifically it may refer to: Venues Australia * Dunstan Playhouse, at the Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide, South Australia * The Playhouse, at the Arts Centre Melbourn ...

during two periods, 1661–1674 and 1695–1705. During the early period, the theatre was called Lincoln's Inn Fields Playhouse, also known as The Duke's Playhouse, The New Theatre or The Opera. The building was demolished and replaced by a purpose-built theatre for a third period, 1714–1728. The tennis court theatre was the first public playhouse in London to feature the moveable

scenery Theatrical scenery is that which is used as a setting for a theatrical production. Scenery may be just about anything, from a single chair to an elaborately re-created street, no matter how large or how small, whether the item was custom-made or ...

that would become a standard feature of Restoration theatres.

Historical background

The period beginning in England in 1642 and lasting until 1660 is known as the Interregnum, meaning "between kings." At this time, there was no monarch on the throne, and theatre was against the law. Spanning from 1642 to 1649, the English Civil War occurred. This war was an uprising against the current King of England, King Charles I, led by Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan. Cromwell's opposition to the throne was religious but political, as well, which led him to build up an army with the ability to imprison King Charles, who was beheaded in 1649, ending the war. After his death, the King's wife and children were given permission to leave the country, so they travelled to France to escape and receive protection. The years following became known as the Commonwealth Era (1649-1660) because Cromwell, who established himself as the monarch figure without assuming any official authority, ruled the nation with Parliament support and renamed the England Republic to the English Commonwealth. These were tough times for England as Cromwell persecuted many families, especially those who fought on the behalf of King Charles I and Irish families that held rustic Catholic beliefs. Needless to say, Oliver Cromwell quickly fell out of the majority's favour, and he died in 1658 of natural causes. Two years later, Charles II, the beheaded king's son, returned to England and began the Restoration by restoring the throne and claiming his role as the proper King of England. In addition, King Charles II's return restored the legality of theatre. This history is significant because it explains that since Charles II spent most of his life in France, he, as King, appreciated French culture, which prominently impressed upon England during the Restoration, particularly Restoration theatre.

Structure

There are no extant photos, elaborate diagrams, paintings, or other forms of visual evidence of the inside of the Lincoln's Inn theatre, but certain aspects are understood of the theatre according to its time period. However, a great example of the layout of the inside is the Theatre Royal in Richmond, England, which contains components of Restoration theatre spaces and still stands today. Lincoln's Inn Fields Playhouse was very small. In fact, Milhous believes that "the smaller seating capacity… hurt the uke’scompany in the long run" as they moved as newer theatres came along (Milhous 71). It was around 75 feet long by 30 feet wide with about a 650-person audience seating maximum capacity (The Restoration Theater; Wilson and Goldfarb 249). It was originally an indoor tennis court; courts were used as theatre spaces because they had a similar structure with a narrow, rectangular shape and gallery seating. The stage was raked, sloping upward toward the back of the stage, in order to help with perspective. The audience was divided into the pit, boxes, and galleries. The pit had backless benches and a raked floor that rose toward the back of the audience to help sightlines. Mostly single men sat here, and it was the noisiest, rowdiest area in the theatre. Boxes sat upper class aristocrats—mostly married couples with wives who wanted to be seen. Galleries held the lower class, including servants of the upper classes in attendance. The English stage, unlike French or Italian theatres, had a very deep apron to provide adequate acting space, and the background and perspective scenery served as solely as scenery. The Lincoln's Inn Fields Playhouse orchestra was housed beneath the stage, and the apron was extended two feet to cover completely the orchestra pit and obtain close proximity between the actors and the audience, creating an intimate atmosphere. Another uniqueness of English theatres is that there were typically two pairs of doors, one on each side of the stage, called proscenium doors with balconies above them for the actors to utilize in performances. Proscenium doors served as entrances and exits disregarding the possibility of multiple locations. Candelabras provided light for the space, and manual moveable scenery was used to move the show along (The Restoration Theater).

The Duke's Company

The building was constructed as a real tennis court in 1656. Thomas Lisle's wife Anne Tyler and a man named James Hooker developed the indoor court in the winter of 1656 and 1657. Tudor-style real tennis courts were long, high-ceiling buildings, with galleries for spectators; their dimensions — about 75 by 30 feet — are similar to the earlier theatres, and much larger than a modern tennis court. After the

English Restoration The Restoration of the Stuart monarchy in the kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland took place in 1660 when King Charles II returned from exile in continental Europe. The preceding period of the Protectorate and the civil wars came to ...

in 1660, Lincoln's Inn Fields Playhouse received its first company through the efforts of the King himself and two men who dedicated themselves to theatre. Sir William Davenant had received a patent from Charles the I in 1639 when he was in power, but he had never used it due to the theatre ban. When theatre was restored, Davenant and a man named Thomas Killigrew wanted to create theatre in England and thus, Killigrew obtained a warrant expressing that he could "raise a company and a theatre, provided that his company and Davenant’s should be the only ones allowed to play in London" (Hotson 199). Davenant, then, drafted their joint warrant and after much debate over whether or not their role in theatre infringed on the Master of the Revels’ power, they appealed to Charles II. Charles II determined their

Letters of Patent Letter, letters, or literature may refer to: Characters typeface * Letter (alphabet), a character representing one or more of the sounds used in speech; any of the symbols of an alphabet. * Letterform, the graphic form of a letter of the alphabe ...

were valid and created two companies to perform "legitimate drama" in London: the

Duke's Company The Duke's Company was a theatre company chartered by King Charles II at the start of the Restoration era, 1660. Sir William Davenant was manager of the company under the patronage of Prince James, Duke of York. During hats period, theatres b ...

of his brother, The Duke of York, led by

William Davenant Sir William Davenant (baptised 3 March 1606 – 7 April 1668), also spelled D'Avenant, was an English poet and playwright. Along with Thomas Killigrew, Davenant was one of the rare figures in English Renaissance theatre whose career spanned bo ...

, and his company, the

King's Company The King's Company was one of two enterprises granted the rights to mount theatrical productions in London, after the London theatre closure had been lifted at the start of the English Restoration. It existed from 1660 to 1682, when it merged wit ...

, led by

Thomas Killigrew Thomas Killigrew (7 February 1612 – 19 March 1683) was an English dramatist and theatre manager. He was a witty, dissolute figure at the court of King Charles II of England. Life Killigrew was one of twelve children of Sir Robert Killigr ...

. Original intentions were positive, but competition was quickly apparent between the two. Both companies briefly performed in the theatrical spaces that had survived the

interregnum An interregnum (plural interregna or interregnums) is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order. Archetypally, it was the period of time between the reign of one monarch and the next (coming from Latin '' ...

and

civil war A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polic ...

(including the Cockpit and Salisbury Court), but scrambled to quickly acquire facilities that were more to current tastes. Taking a hint from their new King's taste, Killigrew and Davenant both chose a solution that had been used in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

: converting tennis courts into theatres. In March 1660, Sir William Davenant contracted to lease Lisle's Tennis Court in order to renovate it into a theatre, and he bought adjoining land to expand the building into the garden area. Killigrew's theatre on Vere Street ( Gibbon's Tennis Court) opened first, in November 1660. Davenant apparently spent more time in his remodelling: Lincoln's Inn Fields opened on 28 June 1661, with the first "moveable" or "changeable"

used on the British public stage, and the first

proscenium arch A proscenium ( grc-gre, προσκήνιον, ) is the metaphorical vertical plane of space in a theatre, usually surrounded on the top and sides by a physical proscenium arch (whether or not truly "arched") and on the bottom by the stage floor ...

Wings A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is exp ...

or shutters ran in grooves and could be smoothly and mechanically changed between or even within acts. The production was a revamped version of Davenant's own five-year-old opera '' The Siege of Rhodes'' where the soon-to-be famous actor, Thomas Betterton, performed the prologue. The result was such a sensation that it brought Charles II to a public theatre for the first time. This production at Lincoln's Inn Fields Playhouse "emptied Killigrew’s theatre" according to Milhous (19). Milhous also explains that the companies and other theatres "deliberately engaged in vicious head-on collision mounting the same plays" (19). The competing King's Company suddenly found itself playing to empty houses, as diarist and devoted playgoer

Samuel Pepys Samuel Pepys (; 23 February 1633 – 26 May 1703) was an English diarist and naval administrator. He served as administrator of the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament and is most famous for the diary he kept for a decade. Pepys had no marit ...

notes on 4 July:

I went to the theatre
n Vere Street N, or n, is the fourteenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''en'' (pronounced ), plural ''ens''. History ...
and there I saw ''Claracilla'' (the first time I ever saw it), well acted. But strange to see this house, that use to be so thronged, now empty since the opera begun—and so will continue for a while I believe.

''The Siege of Rhodes'' "continued acting 12 days without interruption with great applause" according to the prompter John Downes in his "historical review of the stage" '' Roscius Anglicanus'' (1708). This was a remarkable run for the limited potential audience of the time. More acclaimed productions by the Duke's Company "with scenes" followed at Lincoln's Inn Fields in the course of 1661 (including ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depi ...

'' and ''

Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins V ...

''), all highly admired by Pepys. The King's Company was forced to abandon their own, technically unsophisticated tennis-court theatre and commission the construction of a new theatre in Bridges Street, where the Theatre Royal opened in 1663. Prince Cosimo III of Tuscany visited the Lisle theatre in 1669, and his official diarist left us this account:

he pitis surrounded within by separate compartments in which there are several degrees tepsof seating for the greater comfort of the ladies and gentlemen who, according to the liberal custom of the country, share the same boxes. Down below n the pitthere remains a broad space for other members of the audience. The scenery is entirely changeable, with various transformations and lovely perspectives. Before the play begins, to render the waiting less annoying and inconvenient, there are very graceful instrumental pieces to be heard, with the result that many go early just to enjoy this part of the entertainment.

The theatre was implicated by the Grand Jury of Middlesex on 7 July 1703 for showcasing "profane, irrelevant, lewd, indecent, and immoral expressions". It was also a hot target for riots and disorderly assemblies, murders, and other misdemeanors, but despite its troubles, the theatre remained very popular including hosting the first paid performance of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas in 1700 and Handel's final two operas (Pedicord 41). Davenant died in 1668 and the Duke's Company, now under Thomas Betterton, performed out of Lincoln's Inns Fields until 1671, when they relocated to the elaborate new

Dorset Garden Theatre The Dorset Garden Theatre in London, built in 1671, was in its early years also known as the Duke of York's Theatre, or the Duke's Theatre. In 1685, Charles II of England, King Charles II died and his brother, the Duke of York, was crowned as ...

which was more popular at the time. In 1672, the theatre in Bridges Street burnt down, and the King's Company temporarily occupied the recently vacated Lincoln's Inn Field, until their new theatre opened in 1674.

Betterton and Rich

The building was converted back to a tennis court and remained one for almost 20 years. During that time, the Duke's Company, occupying the Dorset Theatre, subsumed the King's Company, housed in the newly rebuilt Theatre Royal, to form the

United Company The United Company was a London theatre company formed in 1682 with the merger of the King's Company and the Duke's Company. Both the Duke's and King's Companies suffered poor attendance during the turmoil of the Popish Plot period, 1678–8 ...

, performing out of Drury Lane. Betterton, a famous English actor, was forced out as the head of the company in 1688, staying on as an actor (and filling a day-to-day managerial role) while a succession of leaders embezzled funds and cut costs by cutting actors' salaries. This uniting created many conflicts between the members of the companies. For example, each company would have one actor who would always play Hamlet, but when the companies are combined, who claims the role? Due to rivalry and competition within the United Company, Thomas Betterton petitioned to the king to separate and create his own company. So, under Christopher Rich, the United Company split. Betterton left with a band of actors and a newly issued license to perform, and from 1695 to 1705 his company performed back at Lincoln's Inn Fields Playhouse, refurbishing the abandoned building back into a theatre. The New Theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields opened in April 1695 with

William Congreve William Congreve (24 January 1670 – 19 January 1729) was an English playwright and poet of the Restoration period. He is known for his clever, satirical dialogue and influence on the comedy of manners style of that period. He was also a mi ...

's '' Love for Love''.Donohue p. 7. It was later the first venue for Congreve's plays '' The Mourning Bride'' (1697) and ''

The Way of the World ''The Way of the World'' is a play written by the English playwright William Congreve. It premiered in early March 1700 in the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields in London. It is widely regarded as one of the best Restoration comedies and is stil ...

'' (1700) and for Vanbrugh's comedy ''

The Provoked Wife ''The Provoked Wife'' (1697) is the second original comedy written by John Vanbrugh. It made its first appearance in Lincoln's Inn Fields in May, 1697. The often-repeated claim that Vanbrugh wrote part of his comedy ''The Provoked Wife'' in th ...

'' (1697). The building went unused as a theatre from 1705 until it was demolished in 1714 or shortly before, in preparation to build a new theatre. The man behind the new construction was none other than Christopher Rich, who after 16 years of management, had been pushed out of Drury lane. Rich died in 1714, but his son

John Rich John Rich (born January 7, 1974) is an American country music singer-songwriter. From 1992 to 1998, he was a member of the country music band Lonestar, in which he played bass guitar and alternated with Richie McDonald as lead vocalist. After d ...

led a company at the theatre until 1728. On 29 January 1728, Rich's theatre hosted the first, very successful, production of

John Gay John Gay (30 June 1685 – 4 December 1732) was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for '' The Beggar's Opera'' (1728), a ballad opera. The characters, including Captain Macheath and Polly ...

's ''

The Beggar's Opera ''The Beggar's Opera'' is a ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay with music arranged by Johann Christoph Pepusch. It is one of the watershed plays in Augustan drama and is the only example of the once thriving genre of sa ...

'' (making "Rich gay and Gay rich"). The theatre was abandoned in December 1732, when the company moved to the new

Covent Garden Theatre The Royal Opera House (ROH) is an opera house An opera house is a theater (structure), theatre building used for performances of opera. It usually includes a Stage (theatre), stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facili ...

, built by Rich using the capital generated by ''The Beggar's Opera'

A few years later Henry Giffard moved his company from Goodman's Fields at a time when he was trying to establish a third major theatre company in London. The

Licensing Act 1737 The Licensing Act of 1737 is a defunct Act of Parliament in the Kingdom of Great Britain, and a pivotal moment in theatrical history. Its purpose was to control and censor what was being said about the British government through theatre. The act ...

largely dashed these hopes, although he continued to stage plays at Lincoln's Inn for several more years. The old building was subsequently used as a barracks, an auction room, a warehouse for china, and was finally demolished in 1848 to make room for an extension to the neighbouring premises of the

Royal College of Surgeons The Royal College of Surgeons is an ancient college (a form of corporation) established in England to regulate the activity of surgeons. Derivative organisations survive in many present and former members of the Commonwealth. These organisations ar ...

br>
https://web.archive.org/web/20061209122556/http://www.coventgarden.uk.com/portugal.html]

Selected premieres at the theatre

* '' The Siege of Rhodes'' by

(1661) * '' Love and Honour (play), Love and Honour'' by

(1661) * '' The Cutter of Coleman Street'' by

Abraham Cowley Abraham Cowley (; 161828 July 1667) was an English poet and essayist born in the City of London late in 1618. He was one of the leading English poets of the 17th century, with 14 printings of his ''Works'' published between 1668 and 1721. Early ...

(1661) * '' The Law Against Lovers'' by

(1662) * '' The Villain'' by Thomas Porter (1662) * '' The Stepmother'' by

Robert Stapylton Sir Robert Stapylton or Stapleton (died 1669) was an English courtier, dramatic poet and translator. Life Stapylton was the third son of Richard Stapleton of Carlton by Snaith, Yorkshire, by Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Henry Pierrepont of H ...

(1663) * '' The Adventures of Five Hours'' by Samuel Tuke (1663) * '' The Slighted Maid'' by

(1663) * '' The Comical Revenge'' by

George Etherege Sir George Etherege (c. 1636, Maidenhead, Berkshire – c. 10 May 1692, Paris) was an English dramatist. He wrote the plays '' The Comical Revenge or, Love in a Tub'' in 1664, '' She Would If She Could'' in 1668, and '' The Man of Mode or, ...

(1664) * ''

The Rivals ''The Rivals'' is a comedy of manners by Richard Brinsley Sheridan in five acts which was first performed at Covent Garden Theatre on 17 January 1775. The story has been updated frequently, including a 1935 musical and a 1958 episode of th ...

'' by

(1664) * ''

Mustapha Mustafa ( ar, مصطفى , Muṣṭafā) is one of the names of Prophet Muhammad, and the name means "chosen, selected, appointed, preferred", used as an Arabic given name and surname. Mustafa is a common name in the Muslim world. Given name ...

'' by Roger Boyle (1665) * '' The English Princess'' by John Caryll (1667) * '' She Would If She Could'' by

(1668) * ''

Tryphon Tryphon or Trypho ( el, Τρύφων, ''gen''.: Τρύφωνος; c. 60 BC – 10 BC) was a Greek grammarian who lived and worked in Alexandria. He was a contemporary of Didymus Chalcenterus. He wrote several specialized works on aspects of lan ...

'' by Roger Boyle (1668) * '' The Sullen Lovers'' by

Thomas Shadwell Thomas Shadwell ( – 19 November 1692) was an English poet and playwright who was appointed Poet Laureate in 1689. Life Shadwell was born at either Bromehill Farm, Weeting-with-Broomhill or Santon House, Lynford, Norfolk, and educated at Bu ...

(1668) * '' The Women's Conquest'' by Edward Howard (1670) * '' Cambyses, King Of Persia'' by Elkanah Settle (1671) * '' The Six Days' Adventure'' by Edward Howard (1671) * ''

Herod and Mariamne ''Herod and Mariamne'' is a 1671 tragedy by the English writer Samuel Pordage. It was first performed by the Duke's Company at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre in London shortly before they moved to the Dorset Gardens Theatre. It was the company ...

'' by Samuel Pordage (1671) * '' The Town Shifts'' by Edward Revet (1671) * ''

Juliana Juliana (variants Julianna, Giuliana, Iuliana, Yuliana, etc) is a feminine given name which is the feminine version of the Roman name Julianus. Juliana or Giuliana was the name of a number of early saints, notably Saint Julian the Hospitaller, wh ...

'' by

John Crowne John Crowne (6 April 1641 – 1712) was a British dramatist. His father "Colonel" William Crowne, accompanied the earl of Arundel on a diplomatic mission to Vienna in 1637, and wrote an account of his journey. He emigrated to Nova Scotia where ...

(1671) * ''

The Assignation ''The Assignation, or Love in a Nunnery'' is a Restoration comedy written by John Dryden. The play was first acted late in 1672, by the King's Company at their theatre at Lincoln's Inn Fields, but was not a success with its audience. Apart f ...

'' by

John Dryden '' John Dryden (; – ) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the p ...

(1672) * ''

The Reformation The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...

'' by Joseph Arrowsmith (1673) * '' Amboyna'' by

(1673) * '' The Amorous Old Woman'' by Thomas Duffett (1674) * '' Love for Love'' by

(1695) * '' The Lover's Luck'' by Thomas Dilke (1695) * ''

Cyrus the Great Cyrus II of Persia (; peo, 𐎤𐎢𐎽𐎢𐏁 ), commonly known as Cyrus the Great, was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire, the first Persian empire. Schmitt Achaemenid dynasty (i. The clan and dynasty) Under his rule, the empire embraced ...

'' by

John Banks John Banks or Bankes may refer to: Politics and law *Sir John Banks, 1st Baronet (1627–1699), English merchant and Member of Parliament * John Banks (American politician) (1793–1864), U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania *John Gray Banks (188 ...

(1695) * '' The She-Gallants'' by George Granville (1695) * ''

The City Bride ''The City Bride; Or, The Merry Cuckold'' is a 1696 comedy play by the English writer Joseph Harris. It premiered at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre, staged by Thomas Betterton's company. The plot was inspired by John Fletcher's ''A Cure for ...

'' by Joseph Harris (1696) * '' The Country Wake'' by

Thomas Doggett Thomas Doggett (or Dogget) (20 September 1721) was an Irish actor. The birth date of 1640 seems unlikely. A more probable date of 1670 is given in the Encyclopædia Britannica. Biography Doggett was born in Dublin, and made his first stage app ...

(1696) *'' The City Lady'' by Thomas Dilke (1696) * '' The Deceiver Deceived'' by Mary Pix (1697) * '' The Italian Husband'' by Edward Ravenscroft (1697) * '' The Mourning Bride'' by

(1697) * ''

The Novelty ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in ...

'' by Peter Anthony Motteux (1697) * ''

'' by

John Vanburgh Sir John Vanbrugh (; 24 January 1664 (baptised) – 26 March 1726) was an English architect, dramatist and herald, perhaps best known as the designer of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard. He wrote two argumentative and outspoken Restora ...

(1697) * ''

The Innocent Mistress ''The Innocent Mistress'' is a comedy written by Mary Pix, first performed in 1697. Plot Sir Charles, a younger son with no estate, is unhappily married to the wealthier, older and "ill-bred" Lady Beauclair. Lady Beauclair is supposedly ...

'' by Mary Pix (1697) * ''

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'' by Thomas Dilke (1698) * ''

Beauty in Distress ''Beauty in Distress'' is a 1698 tragedy by the English writer Peter Anthony Motteux.Lowerre p.198 The original Lincoln's Inn Fields cast included Thomas Betterton as Don Vincentio, John Verbruggen as Ricardo, Edward Kynaston as Duke Ferdinan ...

'' by Peter Motteux (1698) * '' Rinaldo and Armida'' by John Dennis (1698) * '' The False Friend'' by Mary Pix (1699) * '' Friendship Improved'' by Charles Hopkins (1699) * ''

'' by

(1700) * '' The Ambitious Stepmother'' by Nicholas Rowe (1700) * '' The Fate of Capua'' by

Thomas Southerne Thomas Southerne (12 February 166026 May 1746) was an Irish dramatist. Biography Thomas Southerne, born on 12 February 1660, in Oxmantown, near Dublin, was an Irish dramatist. He was the son of Francis Southerne (a Dublin brewer) and Margaret ...

(1700) * ''

Antiochus the Great Antiochus III the Great (; grc-gre, Ἀντίoχoς Μέγας ; c. 2413 July 187 BC) was a Greek Hellenistic king and the 6th ruler of the Seleucid Empire, reigning from 222 to 187 BC. He ruled over the region of Syria and large parts of the r ...

'' by

Jane Wiseman Jane Holt (née Wiseman; March 1673 – after 1717) was a British poet and playwright, notable for being the first self-educated labouring-class woman to have a play professionally produced in London. Wiseman was possibly born in Holborn. Sh ...

(1701) * '' Love's Victim'' by

Charles Gildon Charles Gildon (c. 1665 – 1 January 1724), was an English hack writer who was, by turns, a translator, biographer, essayist, playwright, poet, author of fictional letters, fabulist, short story author, and critic. He provided the source for ma ...

(1701) * ''

The Czar of Muscovy ''The Czar of Muscovy'' is a play attributed to author Mary Pix, first performed and published in 1701. The play is based on the reign of False Dmitriy I (reigned 1605-1606), and also depicts his consort Marina Mniszech. It premiered at the L ...

'' by Mary Pix (1701) * ''

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'' by Mary Pix (1701) * '' The Ladies Visiting Day'' by William Burnaby (1701) * ''

Tamerlane Timur ; chg, ''Aqsaq Temür'', 'Timur the Lame') or as ''Sahib-i-Qiran'' ( 'Lord of the Auspicious Conjunction'), his epithet. ( chg, ''Temür'', 'Iron'; 9 April 133617–19 February 1405), later Timūr Gurkānī ( chg, ''Temür Kür ...

'' by Nicholas Rowe (1701) * '' The Beau's Duel'' by

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(1702) * ''

The Governor of Cyprus ''The Governour of Cyprus'' (or ''The Governor of Cyprus'') is a 1703 play by the English writer John Oldmixon. It premiered at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre in London, but the exact date was unclear with some sources putting the first perfor ...

'' by

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(1702) * '' The Stolen Heiress'' by

(1702) * '' As You Find It'' by Charles Boyle (1703) * '' The Fair Penitent'' by Nicholas Rowe (1703) * ''

Marry, or Do Worse ''Marry, or Do Worse'' is a 1703 comedy play by William Walker.Nicoll p.171 It premiered at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre Lisle's Tennis Court was a building off Portugal Street in Lincoln's Inn Fields in London. Originally built as a ...

'' by William Walker (1703) * ''

The Different Widows ''The Different Widows'' is a 1703 comedy play by the British writer Mary Pix.Nicoll p.350 It premiered at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre in London. The original cast included George Powell as Sir James Belmont, John Corey as Careless, Ge ...

'' by Mary Pix (1703) * ''

Love Betrayed ''Love Betrayed'' is a 1703 comedy play by the English writer William Burnaby. It is also known by the longer title ''Love Betray'd; Or, The Agreeable Disappointment''. It was a reworking of Shakespeare's ''Twelfth Night''.Dobson p.124 The origin ...

'' by William Burnaby (1703) * '' The Biter'' by Nicholas Rowe (1704) * ''

The Stage Coach ''The Stage Coach'' is a 1704 play by George Farquhar and Peter Motteux. A farce, it is based on the 1680 French play '' Les Carrosses d'Orléans'' by Jean de La Chapelle.Richetti p.79 It was staged at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre in London ...

'' by

George Farquhar George Farquhar (1677The explanation for the dual birth year appears in Louis A. Strauss, ed., A Discourse Upon Comedy, The Recruiting Officer, and The Beaux’ Stratagem by George Farquhar' (Boston: D.C. Heath & Co., 1914), p. v. Strauss notes ...

(1704) * ''

Love At First Sight Love at first sight is a personal experience as well as a common trope in literature: a person or character feels an instant, extreme, and ultimately long-lasting romantic attraction for a stranger upon first seeing that stranger. Described by p ...

'' by David Crauford (1704) * '' Squire Trelooby'' by

and

John Vanbrugh Sir John Vanbrugh (; 24 January 1664 (baptised) – 26 March 1726) was an English architect, dramatist and herald, perhaps best known as the designer of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard. He wrote two argumentative and outspoken Restor ...

(1704) * '' The Gamester'' by

(1705) * '' A Woman's Revenge'' by

Christopher Bullock Sir Christopher Llewellyn Bullock, KCB, CBE (10 November 1891 – 16 May 1972), a prominent member of the Bullock family, was Permanent Under-Secretary at the British Air Ministry from 1931 to 1936. Appointed at the age of 38, he remains on ...

(1715) * '' The Perplexed Couple'' by Charles Molloy (1715) * '' The Doating Lovers'' by Newburgh Hamilton (1715) * '' A City Ramble'' by Charles Knipe (1715) * '' The Northern Heiress'' by

Mary Davys Mary Davys (1674?–1732) was an Irish novelist and playwright. Early life Davis was born in Ireland: nothing is known about her childhood, including her birth name. Comments by Jonathan Swift, who was at Trinity College Dublin with her hus ...

(1716) * '' The Cobbler of Preston'' by

(1716) * ''

Everybody Mistaken ''Everybody Mistaken'' is a 1716 comedy play by the British writer William Taverner. The title is also written as ''Every Body Mistaken''. A farce, it is a reworking of ''The Comedy of Errors'' by William Shakespeare. It premiered at the Linco ...

'' by William Taverner (1716) * '' The Fatal Vision'' by Aaron Hill (1716) * '' The Perfidious Brother'' by Lewis Theobald (1716) * ''

Woman Is a Riddle ''Woman Is a Riddle'' is a 1716 comedy play by the British actor Christopher Bullock. Sometimes its title is written as ''A Woman Is a Riddle''. Richard Savage may have assisted with the writing of the play, which draws inspiration from a seven ...

'' by

(1716) * '' The Artful Husband'' by William Taverner (1717) * ''

A Bold Stroke for a Wife ''A Bold Stroke for a Wife'' is Susanna Centlivre's 18th-century satirical English play first performed in 1718. The plot expresses the author's unabashed support of the British Whig Party: she criticises the Tories, religious hypocrisy, and t ...

'' by

(1718) * '' The Coquet'' by Charles Molloy (1718) * ''

The Lady's Triumph ''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speak ...

'' by Lewis Theobald (1718) * ''

Scipio Africanus Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (, , ; 236/235–183 BC) was a Roman general and statesman, most notable as one of the main architects of Rome's victory against Carthage in the Second Punic War. Often regarded as one of the best military com ...

'' by

Charles Beckingham Charles Beckingham (25 July 1699 – 19 February 1730-31) was an English poet and dramatist. Life Beckingham was born, according to the register of Merchant Taylors' School, on 25 July 1699 (Robinson's ''Register'', ii. 32). His father was a l ...

(1718) * '' The Traitor'' by

(1718) * ''

Henry IV of France Henry IV (french: Henri IV; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithets Good King Henry or Henry the Great, was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 1610. He was the first monarc ...

'' by

(1719) * ''

Kensington Gardens Kensington Gardens, once the private gardens of Kensington Palace, are among the Royal Parks of London. The gardens are shared by the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and sit immediately to the west of Hyde ...

'' by John Leigh (1719) * '' Sir Walter Raleigh'' by

George Sewell George Sewell (31 August 19242 April 2007) was an English actor, best known for his television roles, but also active on stage and in films. Early life and career The son of a Hoxton printer and a florist, Sewell left school at the age of 14 a ...

(1719) * ''

'Tis Well if it Takes ''Tis Well if it Takes'' is a 1719 comedy play by the British writer William Taverner. It premiered at Lincoln's Inn Fields on 28 February 1719. The original cast included John Leigh as Loveless, William Bullock as Oldish, Lacy Ryan as Char ...

'' by William Taverner (1719) * '' The Half-Pay Officers'' by Charles Molloy (1720) * '' Hob's Wedding'' by John Leigh (1720) * ''

The Imperial Captives ''The Imperial Captives'' is a 1720 tragedy by the British writer John Mottley. The original cast included James Quin as Genseric, Lacy Ryan as Thrasimond, Anthony Boheme as Aspar, John Egleton as Honoric, Richard Diggs as Narbal, Anna Maria ...

'' by

John Mottley John Mottley (1692–1750) was an English writer, known as a dramatist, biographer, and compiler of jokes. Life He was the son of Colonel Thomas Mottley, a Jacobite adherent of James II in his exile, who entered the service of Louis XIV, and was ...

(1720) * '' Whig and Tory'' by Benjamin Griffin (1720) * '' Antiochus'' by

(1721) * '' The Fair Captive'' by

Eliza Haywood Eliza Haywood (c. 1693 – 25 February 1756), born Elizabeth Fowler, was an English writer, actress and publisher. An increase in interest and recognition of Haywood's literary works began in the 1980s. Described as "prolific even by the standar ...

(1721) * '' Fatal Extravagance'' by Aaron Hill (1721) * '' The Chimera'' by Thomas Odell (1721) * '' Hanging and Marriage'' by

Henry Carey Henry Carey may refer to: * Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon (1526–1596), politician, general, and potential illegitimate son of Henry VIII *Henry Carey, 1st Earl of Dover (1580–1666), English peer * Henry Carey, 2nd Earl of Monmouth (1596–1661 ...

(1722) * ''

Hibernia Freed ''Hibernia Freed'' is a 1722 tragedy by the writer William Phillips. It is set during the ninth century during the Viking Invasion of Ireland. It was part of a growing Anglo-Irish interest in traditional Irish history, and part of a tendency to s ...

'' by William Phillips (1722) * '' The Compromise'' by John Sturmy (1722) * '' Love and Duty'' by John Sturmy (1722) * '' Mariamne'' by

Elijah Fenton Elijah Fenton (20 May 1683 – 16 July 1730) was an English poet, biographer and translator. Life Born in Shelton (now Stoke-on-Trent), and educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, for a time he acted as secretary to the Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of O ...

(1723) * ''

The Fatal Legacy ''The Fatal Legacy'' is a 1723 tragedy by the British writer Jane Robe. It was inspired by Jean Racine's 1664 play '' La Thébaïde''.Staves p.208 It concerns the children of Oedipus in Ancient Thebes. The original Lincoln's Inn Fields cast inc ...

'' by Jane Robe (1723) * ''

Belisarius Belisarius (; el, Βελισάριος; The exact date of his birth is unknown. – 565) was a military commander of the Byzantine Empire under the emperor Justinian I. He was instrumental in the reconquest of much of the Mediterranean ter ...

'' by William Phillips (1724) * '' Edwin'' by George Jeffreys (1724) * '' The Roman Maid'' by Robert Hurst (1724) * ''

The Bath Unmasked ''The Bath Unmasked'' is a 1725 comedy play by the British writer Gabriel Odingsells. The action takes place in the fashionable spa town of Bath. Staged at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre in London it lasted for six performances, considered a ...

'' by Gabriel Odingsells (1725) * '' The Capricious Lovers'' by Gabriel Odingsells (1725) * '' The Female Fortune Teller'' by Charles Johnson (1726) * '' Money the Mistress'' by

(1726) * '' The Dissembled Wanton'' by

Leonard Welsted Leonard Welsted (''baptised'' 3 June 1688 – August 1747) was an English poet and "dunce" in Alexander Pope's writings (both in ''The Dunciad'' and in ''Peri Bathos''). Welsted was an accomplished writer who composed in a relaxed, light heart ...

(1726) *''

Philip of Macedon Philip II of Macedon ( grc-gre, Φίλιππος ; 382 – 21 October 336 BC) was the king ('' basileus'') of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia from 359 BC until his death in 336 BC. He was a member of the Argead dynasty, founders of the a ...

'' by David Lewis (1727) * '' The Fall of Saguntum'' by

Philip Frowde Philip Frowde (died 1738) was an English poet and dramatist. Life Frowde was the son of Ashburnham Frowde, deputy postmaster-general from 1678 to 1688. His grandfather, Colonel Philip Frowde, for his faithful adherence to Charles I of England, Ch ...

(1727) * ''

'' by

(1728) * ''

Sesostris Sesostris ( grc-gre, Σέσωστρις), also transliterated as Sesoösis, or Sesonchosis, is the name of a legendary king of ancient Egypt who, according to Herodotus, led a military expedition into parts of Europe. Tales of Sesostris are pro ...

'' by John Sturmy (1728) * '' The Virgin Queen'' by Richard Barford (1728) * '' Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lunenburgh'' by

(1729) * ''

Themistocles Themistocles (; grc-gre, Θεμιστοκλῆς; c. 524–459 BC) was an Athenian politician and general. He was one of a new breed of non-aristocratic politicians who rose to prominence in the early years of the Athenian democracy. As ...

'' by Samuel Madden (1729) * '' Sylvia'' by George Lillo (1730) * '' The Wife of Bath'' by

(1730) * ''

Orestes In Greek mythology, Orestes or Orestis (; grc-gre, Ὀρέστης ) was the son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, and the brother of Electra. He is the subject of several Ancient Greek plays and of various myths connected with his madness and ...

'' by Lewis Theobald (1731) * '' Merope'' by George Jeffreys (1731) * ''

Philotas Philotas ( el, Φιλώτας; 365 BC – October 330 BC) was the eldest son of Parmenion, one of Alexander the Great's most experienced and talented generals. He rose to command the Companion Cavalry, but was accused of conspiring against Alex ...

'' by

(1731) * '' The Married Philosopher'' by John Kelly (1732) * '' A Tutor for the Beaus'' by John Hewitt (1736) * '' All Alive and Merry'' by

Samuel Johnson Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 – 13 December 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. The ''Oxford D ...

(1736) * '' The Independent Patriot'' by Francis Lynch (1737) * ''

Charles I Charles I may refer to: Kings and emperors * Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings * Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily * Charles I of ...

'' by William Havard (1737)

References

Bibliography

* Avery, Emmett L., and Arthur H. Scouten. The London Stage 1660-1700: A Critical Introduction. Arcturus Books. Southern Illinois University Press, 1968. Print. * Donohue, Joseph ed. (2004). ''The Cambridge History of British Theatre: Volume 2, 1660 to 1885''. Cambridge University Press
Excerpt online
* Gaunt, Peter. "Cromwellian Britain - Lindsey House, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London." The Oliver Cromwell Website. The Cromwell Association, n.d. Web. 5 Feb 2013. . * Hartnoll, Phyllis; Found, Peter (1996). "Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre" ''The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre''. Oxford University Press. * Hotson, Leslie. The Commonwealth and Restoration Stage. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1928. Print. * Langhans, Edward (2001). "The Post-1660 Theatres as Performance Spaces". Owen, Sue ''A Companion to Restoration Drama''. Oxford: Blackwell. * Milhous, Judith (1979). ''Thomas Betterton and the Management of Lincoln's Inn Fields 1695–1708''. Carbondale, Illinois: Southern Illinois University Press. * Spiers, Rupert (2002)

from th

site. Retrieved 14 August 2006. * Styan, John (1996). ''The English Stage: A History of Drama and Performance''. Cambridge University Press. * The Restoration Theater: From Tennis Court to Playhouse. 2004. Film. Jan 2013. * Wilson, Edwin, and Alvin Goldfarb. Living Theatre: History of Theatre. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc, 2012. Print. {{Restoration comedy Former theatres in London Theatres completed in 1661 1661 establishments in England