News
Published on 16 April 2026
On this day in history, theater fanatics across London rolled out of bed, grabbed their copies of The British Chronicle, and opened them only to find what must have been shocking news: Charlotte Charke, an iconic figure of the acting world, had died.
A Life of Adventures…
From a young age, Charke embraced her interests in endeavors considered improper for a woman. Her mother made it clear that she intended Charke to “[be] made a good Housewife,” but Charke found herself “passionately fond of the Study of Physics [medicine]” and took no interest in more culturally acceptable feminine hobbies such as embroidery (A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Charlotte Charke, pages 30-34).
After demands from her father to cease as desist her practice of medicine and loss of the shop she had been selling herbal remedies out of, Charke moved on to other business pursuits. This would be a theme of her life,... Read More
Published on 09 April 2026
Good morning lovers of the London Stage! Can you believe it? Today’s the day! The night has finally arrived that we get to see the great John Dryden’s NEW play Cleomenes!
Wait- what do you mean? The show’s been canceled?!
Dryden’s Latest Tragic Play
“Cleomenes the Spartan Heroe: A Tragedy”, 1692. Public domain image via Internet Archive
On the 12th of March, 1692 the Gentlemen’s Journal newspaper ran the following advertisement:
“Mr Dryden has completed a new Tragedy, intended shortly for the Stage, wherein he hath done a great unfortunate Spartan no less justice than Roman Anthony met with in his All for Love. You who give Plutarch a daily reading, can never forget with what magnimity (under all his tedious misfortunes) Cleomenes behaved himself, in the Aegyptian Court. This Hero, and the last Scene of his Life, has our best Tragic Poet chose for his fruitful Subject.” (page 406).
Invoking his widely popular play All for... Read More
Published on 02 April 2026
Welcome back, theater history fans, to another #theaterthursday!
Today we’re talking about the one, the only William Shakespeare. Love him or hate him, the Bard’s lasting influence and popularity are undeniable. In his own time, though, he was just one of many respected and successful playwrights. In fact — as a writer for The Economist used the London Stage Database to show — our modern sense of Shakespeare’s unique “greatness” arose over the course of the eighteenth century, with plenty of help from promoters like actor-manager David Garrick and the Shakespeare Ladies Club. By the end of the century, his reputation was cemented — and, for a certain kind of unsavory character, temptingly profitable.
William Henry Ireland
The year is 1796; the day, Saturday April 2nd, and Drury Lane Theatre is putting on a one-of-a-kind show — thanks to a man by the name of William Henry Ireland. Ireland garnered attention when he “rediscovered”... Read More
Published on 26 March 2026
A Notice to Fans of the London Stage Blog:
Last time of posting ’till Easter Holidays!
For this #theaterthursday, we bring to you the event of March 26th, 1768, wherein Covent Garden Theatre advertised that the show that night would be their “Last time of performing till Easter Holidays.”
Covent Garden was not alone in their planned repose. It was, in fact, tradition for public playhouses to close in observation of Holy Week during the week leading up to Easter. We here at the London Stage will be following suit and taking it easy this Thursday; for, while the show must go on, everyone needs a break now and then.
So, without further ado, goodbye and see you next week when we’ll be returning to our usual #theaterthursday posting!
Published on 19 March 2026
MOST exciting news fans of the London Stage: on this very day, 1675, Nell Gwyn (that’s right, THE Nell Gwyn) attended a performance by the Duke’s Company at Dorset Garden Theatre! How lucky for the rest of the audience, sharing space with Nell Gwyn!!!
Wait— did someone just ask “who’s Nell Gwyn?”
A 17th-Century Starlet
Nell Gwyn by Simon Verelst oil on canvas, feigned oval, circa 1680. Licensed from National Portrait Gallery, London, under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License
Like modern times, the Restoration era had its fair share of celebrities. Certain actors and actresses reached the level of fame wherein their personal lives became the subject of public interest and spectacle. For this #theaterthursday, allow us to introduce you to one such celebrity: Eleanor (“Nell”) Gwyn.
To begin, allow us to call your attention back to our previous blog post about Orange-Women. Remember those fruit vendors of Restoration playhouses? Well, in Cinderella-like fashion,... Read More
Published on 18 March 2026
Earlier this week, I sat down for an interview with Evan Watson, an investigative reporter at KGW-8 (NBC Portland) who has been into the impacts of NEH cuts on humanities projects in Oregon. His piece ran on the evening news yesterday:
A longer article went online this morning, as well:
Evan Wilson for KGW news: DOGE used ChatGPT to cut humanities grants, affecting Oregon researchers and museums
Huge thanks to Molly Blancett and Angela Seydel from the University Communications office for their help coordinating interview logistics, and to Professor Julie Weise from History, who sent Evan my way for this story — and who has also been doing an enormous amount of work to connect the people affected by these terminations with one another and to identify avenues for education and advocacy.
Also, I have to say this: I totally understand it’s useful shorthand to say that I “created” the London Stage... Read More