The Haymarket Theatre. - The theatre pulled down in 1820, is said to have been built in 1702, and about the year 1763 fell into the possession of the celebrated Samuel Foote whose inimitable farces were all produced at this theatre, himself invariably representing the principal character; an instance of which among many others on record, is the performance of Major Sturgeon by him, in his celebrated farce of "The Mayor of Garrett" first produced in that year. It afterwards became the property of the elder Colman, a dramatic author of some celebrity; and subsequently of his son, whose inimitable comedies, with one exception, viz. "John Bull," all produced at this theatre, have erected an imperishable monument to his memory. Mr. Colman, for for some time previous to his decease, resigned the management of this establishment, in which he was succeeded by his brother. - in-law, Mr. Morris, the late proprietor. Mr. Webster is now lessee. The designs for this inconvenient and ill-constructed theatre were made by Nash, whose utter unacquaintance with works of this description is here strikingly exemplified.
Mogg's New Picture of London and Visitor's Guide to it Sights, 1844
The
HAYMARKET THEATRE (nearly opposite Her Majesty's Theatre, Haymarket) was
established in 1720, for a company of French performers, by a person named
Potter. A new theatre was built on the same site by the celebrated comedian and
dramatist Samuel Foote, and opened in 1767; the two Colmans were its managers
for a long period. The present building was built by Nash, and opened on the 4th
of July 1821. Here Mr. Benjamin Webster ruled for many years, supported by
Farren, Charles Kean, Strickland, Mrs. Nisbett, Miss Helen Faucit, Miss Julia
Bennet, Macready, Elton, Charles Mathews, and Buckstone. On Mr. Webster's
removal to the Adelphi, Mr. Buckstone assumed the reins of management, and has
well maintained the prestige and popularity of the "Little Theatre in the
Haymarket."
Class of Performance: Comedy, farce, ballet, and
burlesque.
Admission: Private boxes, 1l. 11s. 6d and 2l.
2s.; stalls, 6s.; dress circle, 5s.; upper boxes, 3s.; pit, 2s.;
gallery 1s. Doors open at half-past six; curtain rises at seven p.m
Cruchley's London in 1865 : A Handbook for Strangers, 1865
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Haymarket Theatre, east side of Haymarket.—A curiously-constructed house, built by Nash of Bath, whose principal practice was in the way of chapels, and who seems to have had some such model in his eye on this occasion. The salle is not of the usual semicircular or horseshoe form, but oblong, whilst the dress-circle comes down within four or five feet of the level of the pit. Its specialty for some time was comedy, but of late years it has rather wandered out of it. The pit, though one of the smallest, is one of the most comfortable in London. NEAREST Railway Stations Charing-cross (Dist, and S.E.) Omnibus Routes, Piccadilly, Regent-street, Haymarket, and Strand.
Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of London, 1879