Opening of the Theatre Royal, Bristol
- When
- 1764–1778
- Where
- King Street, Bristol; Theatre Royal, King Street, Bristol; Theatre Royal, Bristol
- Episodes
- 3
The Theatre Royal on King Street in Bristol, built between 1764 and 1766, opened on 30 May 1766 with a performance featuring a prologue and epilogue given by David Garrick. It later became a patent theatre under the Bristol Theatre Act 1778, when it formally took the name Theatre Royal.
Episodes
- Construction on King Street
The theatre was built on King Street in Bristol between 1764 and 1766, later recognised as the oldest continually-operating theatre in the English-speaking world.
- Opening Performance of 30 May 1766
The theatre opened on 30 May 1766 with a performance that included a prologue and epilogue delivered by David Garrick.
- Letters Patent and the Name Theatre Royal
After the Bristol Theatre Act 1778, royal letters patent were granted, the theatre became a patent theatre, and it adopted the name Theatre Royal.
Background and detail
Background. The Theatre Royal was built between 1764 and 1766 on King Street in Bristol. The passage identifies it as the oldest continually-operating theatre in the English-speaking world. Separately, a person named Saunders had provided drawings for a theatre in Richmond, Surrey, built in 1765.
Opening Night. The theatre opened on 30 May 1766 with a performance that included a prologue and epilogue given by David Garrick. At its opening the venue did not yet bear the name Theatre Royal; legal concerns about its status persisted until royal letters patent were granted after the Bristol Theatre Act 1778.
Aftermath and Naming. Following the passing of the Bristol Theatre Act 1778 (18 Geo. 3. c. 8), royal letters patent were granted, the theatre became a patent theatre, and it took up the name "Theatre Royal". At that time it also began opening for the winter season, and a joint company was established to perform at both the Bath Theatre Royal and in Bristol.
People involved
- David Garrick · performer of the prologue and epilogue at the opening performance
Sources
- Bristol Old Vic Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-16
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.