![[Mask Logo]](home3.jpg)
![[Mask Logo]](mask3.jpg)
UKC/POS/LDN AST
Templeman Library Playbill Collection contains 9 playbills from Astley's Theatre, under various names, 1844-[1865?].
The first theatre on the site opened in 1770. From 1791 until 1794 when it was destroyed by fire it was known as the Royal Saloon. From 1794 until 1803 when the buiding once again suffered a devastating fire the theatre was known as the Royal Grove until 1795 and then Astley's Amphitheatre of Arts. It reopened in 1804 as the Royal Amphitheatre, changing to Davis's Royal Amphitheatre in 1823 and the Royal Amphitheatre (Astley's) in 1825. It became Batty's Amphitheatre in 1842 having suffered a further 2 fires in 1830 and 1841, and then the Theatre Royal, Westminster in 1862. Afurther 3 name changes followed, Astley's Theatre in 1863, Theatre Royal, Astley's in 1867 and finally Sanger's Grand National Amphitheatre in 1883. There was a total of 6 buildings on the site. Sanger's was closed as unsafe in 1893 and demolished the same year.
1844 - 1865
From 1843 to 1853, 1860 to 1862 and in 1863 William Batty was manager. William Cooke managed the theatre from 1853 to 1860. Edward Tyrell Smith was lessee from 1863 to 1866.
Under William Batty's management the stage managers were W.D. Broadfoot (also Acting Manager, 1844); W. West (1848); T. Thompson (1851).
Under William Cooke's management W. West was Stage Manager, H.W. Cooke was Acting Manager, and W. Cooke, Jun. was Equestrian Director (1855-58). Later, R. Phillips was Stage Manager.
Under the management of E.T. Smith, Mr. Friend was Stage Manager.
Please contact Mrs. S. Crabtree, Special Collections Librarian for details of access to the collections (S.A.Crabtree@kent.ac.uk)
(Last updated 9th December 2005)