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Pym's Private Theatre was in Wilson Street, Gray's Inn Lane. It opened in 1817 and was still active in 1851. The usual night for amateur performances was Thursday, though occasionally theatricals were hosted on alternative evenings.  
Pym's Private Theatre was in Gough Street, Wilson Street, Gray's Inn Lane. It opened in 1817 and was still active in 1851. The usual night for amateur performances was Thursday, though occasionally theatricals were hosted on alternative evenings. The name of the theatre alternated at regular points on the playbills. It was most commonly titled on the playbills as 'Dramatic Institution', but also appeared as 'New Subscription Theatre' (in 1819), 'Theatre' (1839). 


The names on the theatre's playbills were not the real names of the actors. Pseudonyms were used to disguise their real identities. Research has revealed a number of the real people behind the pseudonyms:
== Performers ==
The names on the theatre's playbills were usually not the real names of the actors. Pseudonyms were used to disguise their real identities. Research has revealed a number of the real people behind the pseudonyms.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+
Line 9: Line 10:
!Notes
!Notes
|-
|-
|Roberts
|Mr Roberts
|Unknown
|Unknown
|Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
|Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
|This is the author of the Dramatic Institution Scrapbook. We know this as they tell us in the scrapbook that they joined Pym's in February 1830 and give a list of the plays and parts that they appeared in.  
|This is the author of the Dramatic Institution Scrapbook. We know this as they tell us in the scrapbook that they joined Pym's in February 1830 and give a list of the plays and parts that they appeared in.  
|-
|Miss Harman
|Unknown
|Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
|We are told that she and her sister also played at the Hackney Road Theatre, which was supported by a lawyer in Red Lion Square. Her name is given in the scrapbook but is difficult to transcribe. 
|-
|Mr Marsden
|Brown
|Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
|In the 1829-30 season we are told that his first role is Inkle on 29 December. The author of the scrapbook tells us that 'his real name is Brown, son of the Coloursman in Holborn'
|-
|Mr Mountain
|J. Hill
|Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
|This is written in brackets next to his name on the handwritten playbill for Inkle and Yarico on 29 December 1829.
|-
|Mr Crooke
|Unknown
|Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
|We are told he is a music 'st...'. Transcription needed.
|-
|Mr Hall
|Possibly another Mr Hill
|Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
|
|-
|Miss St Aubyn
|Unknown
|Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
|We are told that she was the daughter of XXXX - transcription needed.
|}
|}
The repertoire included:
 
== Repertoire ==
The repertoire included the following:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 22: Line 55:
!Source
!Source
!Notes
!Notes
|-
|''Othello'' and ''Sylvester Daggerwood''
|16 July 1819 (Friday)
|V&A Theatre Collection
|The venue is known as 'The New Subscription Theatre'. doors would open at 6.30pm and the play was to begin at 7pm. It is noted that 'no person admitted in undress'. The playbill also makes clear that those with an asterix next to their name had 'never before appeared on any stage'.
|-
|-
|''King Lear'' and ''Bombastes Furioso''
|''King Lear'' and ''Bombastes Furioso''
Line 43: Line 81:
|
|
|-
|-
|''Luke the Labourer'' and ''Charles the Second''
|''Luke the Labourer'' and ''Charles the Second,'' also a scene from ''Julius Caesar'' and a comic song
|5 January 1830 (Tuesday)
|5 January 1830 (Tuesday)
|Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
|Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Line 66: Line 104:
|28 January 1830 (Thursday)
|28 January 1830 (Thursday)
|Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
|Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
|
|Miss Holl is the sister of another player (transcription difficult) and this is the only time that she played.
|-
|-
|''The Honey Moon''
|''The Honey Moon''
Line 212: Line 250:
|Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
|Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
|Between the pieces there was an address on the close of the season.  
|Between the pieces there was an address on the close of the season.  
|-
|''Provoked Husband'' and ''Lock and Key''
|2 August 1832 (Thursday)
|V&A Theatre Collections
|
|-
|''Virginius'' and ''The Two Friends''
|6 December 1832 (Thursday)
|V&A Theatre Collections
|The playbill notes that 'The Manager and the Subscribers to this Theatre' had decided that performances would start at 8pm and ask friends to attend early, with doors opening at 7.30pm.
|-
|''A Cure for the Heart Ache'' and ''Spectre Bridegroom''
|1 July 1839 (Monday)
|V&A Theatre Collections
|The event begins at 7.30pm. This was Mr H. Lee's Night.
|-
|''Perfection; or, The Lady of Munster'' and ''The Merchant of Venice''
|17 October 1839 (Thursday)
|V&A Theatre Collections
|Between the acts Mr. F. Sinclair would sing. The event begins at 7 o'clocl
|-
|''Lady of Lyons'', ''Boots at the Swan'' and ''Not to Be Done''.
|16 May 1851 (Friday)
|V&A Theatre Collections
|The playbill states that 'Terms of Subscription, Five Shillings per Quarter'. Performances begin at 7pm.
|}
|}
[[Category:Venues]]
[[Category:Britain]]

Latest revision as of 10:03, 25 April 2025

Pym's Private Theatre was in Gough Street, Wilson Street, Gray's Inn Lane. It opened in 1817 and was still active in 1851. The usual night for amateur performances was Thursday, though occasionally theatricals were hosted on alternative evenings. The name of the theatre alternated at regular points on the playbills. It was most commonly titled on the playbills as 'Dramatic Institution', but also appeared as 'New Subscription Theatre' (in 1819), 'Theatre' (1839).

Performers

The names on the theatre's playbills were usually not the real names of the actors. Pseudonyms were used to disguise their real identities. Research has revealed a number of the real people behind the pseudonyms.

Pseudonym Real Name Source Notes
Mr Roberts Unknown Dramatic Institution Scrapbook This is the author of the Dramatic Institution Scrapbook. We know this as they tell us in the scrapbook that they joined Pym's in February 1830 and give a list of the plays and parts that they appeared in.
Miss Harman Unknown Dramatic Institution Scrapbook We are told that she and her sister also played at the Hackney Road Theatre, which was supported by a lawyer in Red Lion Square. Her name is given in the scrapbook but is difficult to transcribe.
Mr Marsden Brown Dramatic Institution Scrapbook In the 1829-30 season we are told that his first role is Inkle on 29 December. The author of the scrapbook tells us that 'his real name is Brown, son of the Coloursman in Holborn'
Mr Mountain J. Hill Dramatic Institution Scrapbook This is written in brackets next to his name on the handwritten playbill for Inkle and Yarico on 29 December 1829.
Mr Crooke Unknown Dramatic Institution Scrapbook We are told he is a music 'st...'. Transcription needed.
Mr Hall Possibly another Mr Hill Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Miss St Aubyn Unknown Dramatic Institution Scrapbook We are told that she was the daughter of XXXX - transcription needed.

Repertoire

The repertoire included the following:

Plays Date Source Notes
Othello and Sylvester Daggerwood 16 July 1819 (Friday) V&A Theatre Collection The venue is known as 'The New Subscription Theatre'. doors would open at 6.30pm and the play was to begin at 7pm. It is noted that 'no person admitted in undress'. The playbill also makes clear that those with an asterix next to their name had 'never before appeared on any stage'.
King Lear and Bombastes Furioso unknown, 1829 Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Lord of the Manor and Green-Eyed Monster 3 December 1829 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
The Curfew and The Lancers 17 December 1829 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Inkle and Yarico and How to Die for Love 29 December 1829 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Luke the Labourer and Charles the Second, also a scene from Julius Caesar and a comic song 5 January 1830 (Tuesday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
John Bull, Intrigue and Rendezvous. 6 January 1830 (Wednesday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
The Rivals and A House to be Sold 14 January 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
The Bee Hive and The Spectre Bridegroom 21 January 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
The Iron Chest and The Miser 28 January 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook Miss Holl is the sister of another player (transcription difficult) and this is the only time that she played.
The Honey Moon 2 February 1830 (Tuesday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Day After the Wedding, Bon Ton and The Lancers 4 February 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
The Heir at Law and Fortune's Frolic 18 February 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
The Wonder and The Review 25 February 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Riches and The Rendezvous 4 March 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Othello, Intrigue and Charles the Second 5 March 1830 (Friday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Innkeeper of Abbeville and Sixty Third Letter 11 March 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
The Bee Hive and Monsieur Jonson 18 March 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Belle's Stratagem and Raising the Wind 25 March 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Poor Gentleman and The Irish Tutor 1 April 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Evadne and Amateurs and Actors 8 April 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Education and Animal Magnetism 22 April 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
The Promissory Note, XYZ and The Irish Tutor 29 April 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook Initially scheduled Fatality but noted that it was replaced by The Irish Tutor as Roberts refused to play the character of Lackbrain.
Fatality, Ways and Means and He Lies Like Truth 6 May 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
The Fair Penitent and Long Stories; Or, We Fly By Night 13 May 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
She Stoops to Conquer and Love, Law and Physic 20 May 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Clari; or, The Maid of Milan and Turn Out 27 May 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
The Midnight Hour and The Poor Soldier 10 June 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Bertram; Or, The Castle of St. Aldobrand and Long Stories; Or, We Fly By Night 17 June 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Charles the Twelfth; Or, The Siege of Stralsund and All at Coventry 24 June 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Evadne and The Village Lawyer 1 July 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
The Slave and Amoroso, King of Little Britain 8 July 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook Playbill printed June incorrectly.
The Jealous Wife and William Thompson; Or, Which is He? 16 July 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook Playbill printed June incorrectly.
Luke the Labourer and Who's Who; Or, The Double Imposter 22 July 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
The Heir at Law and The Duel; Or, My Two Nephews 23 July 1830 (Friday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
A New Way to Pay Old Debts and Mrs. Wiggins 29 July 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Riches; Or, The Wife and Brother and The Spectre Bridegroom 5 August 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
Hamlet and The Youthful Queen Christine of Sweden 10 August 1830 (Tuesday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook
As You Like It and Who's to Have Her? 12 August 1830 (Thursday) Dramatic Institution Scrapbook Between the pieces there was an address on the close of the season.
Provoked Husband and Lock and Key 2 August 1832 (Thursday) V&A Theatre Collections
Virginius and The Two Friends 6 December 1832 (Thursday) V&A Theatre Collections The playbill notes that 'The Manager and the Subscribers to this Theatre' had decided that performances would start at 8pm and ask friends to attend early, with doors opening at 7.30pm.
A Cure for the Heart Ache and Spectre Bridegroom 1 July 1839 (Monday) V&A Theatre Collections The event begins at 7.30pm. This was Mr H. Lee's Night.
Perfection; or, The Lady of Munster and The Merchant of Venice 17 October 1839 (Thursday) V&A Theatre Collections Between the acts Mr. F. Sinclair would sing. The event begins at 7 o'clocl
Lady of Lyons, Boots at the Swan and Not to Be Done. 16 May 1851 (Friday) V&A Theatre Collections The playbill states that 'Terms of Subscription, Five Shillings per Quarter'. Performances begin at 7pm.
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