Capel Street Theatre

Capel Street Theatre was an 18th-century theatre located on Capel Street in Dublin, Ireland.

The noted actor Charles Macklin appeared at Capel Street Theatre
William Thomas Lewis acted in False Delicacy at the theatre in 1770

The Capel Street Theatre had two distinct periods in its history. The first theatre on the site was called the 'New Theatre in Capel Street' or 'City Theatre in Capel Street' and was built by William 'Harlequin' Phillips on a strip of land 50 feet by 100 feet that he leased on the West side of Capel Street between Little Strand Street and Mary's Abbey. In 1744 Phillips and his wife were members of the United Company in Dublin; they and other members of the troupe became increasingly dissatisfied with their treatment, so Phillips, his wife and members of the Company went to the small playhouse he had built and which opened in January 1745. The theatre stood some 50 feet back from the street behind Nos 136 and 137 Capel Street and was reached by way of a passageway. The theatre's auditorium had boxes, lattices, an orchestra pit and first and second floor galleries. However, the theatre had been built hastily causing concerns about its safety, forcing the manager to issue a statement that he would obtain the necessary certificates from Master Builders. This theatre closed in 1749 and the building was appropriated for other uses.[1]

The second theatre was known as the City Theatre and was in the same building as the earlier theatre and opened on 26 February 1770 with the investors being Mr. Dawson, Mr. Mahon, and Mr. Wilkes. The theatre opened with a production featuring William Thomas Lewis.

Dawson was the manager of this new erected company, and by the experience he had had, was, in many respects, equal to the task. He was active, industrious, and intelligent, well acquainted with the world, and prompt to improve every opportunity fortune threw in his way. The theatre was elegantly ornamented and beautified; the scenes new painted, by Jolly. The wardrobe, as might be expected, light, but fashionable, and shewy.

Every arrangement being adjusted, in the best manner the times would permit, the new adventurers opened on Monday February 26th, 1770, with a new comedy, never performed in this kingdom, written by Hugh Kelly, Esq and then in reputation in London, called False Delicacy.[2]

The theatre closed in 1784.[3]

Among the actors to appear here were: Charles Macklin, Elizabeth Younge,[4] William Thomas Lewis,[5] and Henrietta Amelia Leeson. The dramatist Robert Houlton wrote works for the theatre for a season, sharing the honours with Walley Chamberlain Oulton.[6]

References
  1. John C. Greene, Gladys L. H. Clark, The Dublin Stage, 1720-1745: A Calendar of Plays, Entertainments, and Afterpieces, Leigh University Press (1993) - Google Books pg. 35
  2. An Historical View of the Irish Stage; From the Earliest Period Down to the Close of the Season 1788. Interspersed with Theatrical Anecdotes, and an Occasional Review of the Irish Dramatic Authors and Actors. In Two Volumes. Vol. II. By Robert Hitchcock, of the Theatre-Royal, Dublin. Printed by William Folds, No. 38, Gt. Strand-Street, Dublin 1794
  3. John Finegan, 'Dublin's Lost Theatres', Dublin Historical Record, Vol. 47, No. 1, Diamond Jubilee Issue (Spring, 1994), pp. 95-99
  4. Robert Farquharson Sharp (1909) A Short History of the English Stage: From Its Beginnings to the Summer of the Year 1908 p.312, Walter Scott Publishing Company, London and New York
  5. On 26 February 1770 he was Sir Harry Newburgh in Hugh Kelly's False Delicacy. Hastings in The Tragedy of Jane Shore by Nicholas Rowe followed.
  6. John C. Greene (2011). Theatre in Dublin, 1745-1820: A Calendar of Performances. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 2190. ISBN 978-1-61146-112-1.

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