A rare and original publication of the London play "Doctor Last in His Chariot" dated 1773 (Third Edition). The Preface explains that the play is a translation of "Le Malade Imaginaire" , a celebrated farce by Molière. The Prologue was written by the popular actor David Garrick and spoken by Samuel Foote who managed the theatre at that time - see scans and below
Original printings of early London plays are rare - reproductions of this play are available on-line
Good condition. Page size 7.5 x 4.5 inches . 70 pages
Theatre Royal Haymarket
1720: Little Theatre (nearby) 1767: Theatre Royal | |
 The theatre in 2008, showing Edward Bond's The Sea | |
| Address | Suffolk Street, Haymarket London, SW1 United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°30′31″N 0°7′53″W |
| Public transit |  Piccadilly Circus |
| Owner | Access Entertainment |
| Operator | Access Entertainment[1] |
| Type | West End theatre |
| Capacity | 888 on 4 levels |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 4 July 1821(current structure) |
| Rebuilt | 1879: proscenium and removal of pit 1904: auditorium 1994: major refurbishment |
| Years active | 1720–present |
| Architect | John Nash |
| Website | |
| www.trh.co.uk | |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
| Official name | The Haymarket Theatre (Theatre Royal) |
| Designated | 14 January 1970 |
| Reference no. | 1066641 |
The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre in Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use. Samuel Footeacquired the lease in 1747, and in 1766 he gained a royal patent to play legitimate drama (meaning spoken drama, as opposed to opera, concerts or plays with music) in the summer months. The original building was a little further north in the same street. It has been at its current location since 1821, when it was redesigned by John Nash. It is a Grade I listed building, with a seating capacity of 888.[2] The freehold of the theatre is owned by the Crown Estate.[3]
The Haymarket has been the site of a significant innovation in theatre. In 1873, it was the venue for the first scheduled matinée performance, establishing a custom soon followed in theatres everywhere. Its managers have included Benjamin Nottingham Webster, John Baldwin Buckstone, Squire Bancroft, Cyril Maude, Herbert Beerbohm Tree, and John Sleeper Clarke, brother-in-law of John Wilkes Booth, who quit America after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Famous actors who débuted at the theatre included Robert William Elliston (1774–1831) and John Liston (1776–1846).
Samuel Foote
Samuel Foote | |
|---|---|
 Foote by Jean-Francois Colson, 1769 | |
| Born | January 1720 |
| Died | 21 October 1777 (aged 57) |
| Notable work | |
Samuel Foote (January 1720 – 21 October 1777) was a Cornish[1][2][3][4] dramatist, actor and theatre manager. He was known for his comedic acting and writing, and for turning the loss of a leg in a riding accident in 1766 to comedic opportunity.