Goodman's Fields Theatre
Encyclopedia
Two 18th century theatres bearing the name Goodman's Fields Theatre were located on Ayliffe Street, Whitechapel
, London
. The first opened on 31 October 1727 in a small shop by Thomas Odell, deputy Licenser of Plays. The first play performed was George Farquhar
's The Recruiting Officer
. Henry Fielding
's second play The Temple Beau premièred here 26 January 1730. Upon retirement, Odell passed the management on to Henry Giffard, after a sermon was preached against the theatre at St Botolph's, Aldgate
. Giffard operated the theatre until 1732. After he left, the theatre was used for a variety of acrobatic performances.
Giffard constructed a new theatre down the street designed by Edward Shepherd
who also designed the Royal Opera House
, Covent Garden
. The theatre opened with Henry IV, Part I, 2 October 1732 that included actors Thomas Walker
, Richard Yates and Harry Woodward
. With the passing of the Licensing Act of 1737, the theatre was forced to close. Giffard rented Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre briefly and then, with various political machinations, was able to reopen Goodman's Fields in 1740. The Winter's Tale
was produced there in 1741 for the first time in over a century. The same year David Garrick
made his successful début as Richard III
. He also staged plays of his own including the 1741 farce
The Lying Valet
. The theatre closed 27 May 1742 and did not re-open. It was pulled down in 1746, and a further theatre built on the site, this briefly showed drama before it was converted to a warehouse and burned down in 1809.
During its heyday, the poet Gray
noted in a letter to a friend, that there are a dozen dukes of a night at Goodman's Fields sometimes.
The Oxford Companion to the Theatre notes that there may have been an earlier theatre named Goodman's Fields Theatre in the area around 1703.
Whitechapel
Whitechapel is a built-up inner city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England. It is located east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Fashion Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and The Highway on the...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The first opened on 31 October 1727 in a small shop by Thomas Odell, deputy Licenser of Plays. The first play performed was George Farquhar
George Farquhar
George Farquhar was an Irish dramatist. He is noted for his contributions to late Restoration comedy, particularly for his plays The Recruiting Officer and The Beaux' Stratagem .-Early life:...
's The Recruiting Officer
The Recruiting Officer
The Recruiting Officer is a 1706 play by the Irish writer George Farquhar, which follows the social and sexual exploits of two officers, the womanising Plume and the cowardly Brazen, in the town of Shrewsbury to recruit soldiers...
. Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding was an English novelist and dramatist known for his rich earthy humour and satirical prowess, and as the author of the novel Tom Jones....
's second play The Temple Beau premièred here 26 January 1730. Upon retirement, Odell passed the management on to Henry Giffard, after a sermon was preached against the theatre at St Botolph's, Aldgate
Aldgate
Aldgate was the eastern most gateway through London Wall leading from the City of London to Whitechapel and the east end of London. Aldgate gives its name to a ward of the City...
. Giffard operated the theatre until 1732. After he left, the theatre was used for a variety of acrobatic performances.
Edward Shepherd
Edward Shepherd was a prominent London-based English architect and developer in the Georgian period.- Architectural work :Shepherd worked on the following projects, among others:...
who also designed the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
. The theatre opened with Henry IV, Part I, 2 October 1732 that included actors Thomas Walker
Thomas Walker
Thomas or Tom Walker may refer to:*Thomas Walker , English academic at Oxford University*Thomas Walker , American explorer*Thomas Walker , English ancestor of Bush family...
, Richard Yates and Harry Woodward
Harry Woodward
Harry Woodward was a US ranger naturalist who, in 1938-9, first described a mathematical relation between the durations and intervals of eruptions from the Old Faithful Geyser. Intervals between eruptions can range from 45 to 125 minutes, averaging 66.5 minutes in 1939, slowly increasing to an...
. With the passing of the Licensing Act of 1737, the theatre was forced to close. Giffard rented Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre briefly and then, with various political machinations, was able to reopen Goodman's Fields in 1740. The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare, originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, some modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some critics, among them W. W...
was produced there in 1741 for the first time in over a century. The same year David Garrick
David Garrick
David Garrick was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of theatrical practice throughout the 18th century and was a pupil and friend of Dr Samuel Johnson...
made his successful début as Richard III
Richard III (play)
Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
. He also staged plays of his own including the 1741 farce
Farce
In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases,...
The Lying Valet
The Lying Valet
The Lying Valet is a British play by David Garrick. A farce it was first performed at the Goodman's Fields Theatre on 30 November 1741. Garrick based his work on the second act of All Without Money by Peter Antony Motteux which was in turn inspired by a French play. Garrick initially followed the...
. The theatre closed 27 May 1742 and did not re-open. It was pulled down in 1746, and a further theatre built on the site, this briefly showed drama before it was converted to a warehouse and burned down in 1809.
During its heyday, the poet Gray
David Gray (poet)
David Gray was a Scottish poet.The son of a handloom weaver, Gray was born at Merkland, by Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire. His parents resolved to educate him for the kirk, and through their self-denial and his own exertions as a pupil teacher and private tutor he was able to complete a course of...
noted in a letter to a friend, that there are a dozen dukes of a night at Goodman's Fields sometimes.
The Oxford Companion to the Theatre notes that there may have been an earlier theatre named Goodman's Fields Theatre in the area around 1703.