Unknown - Robin Hood (Covent Garden)

By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2014-10-10. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2022-05-27.

According to the "Theatrical Register" column in the Gentleman's Magazine, one or more pieces entitled Robin Hood was/were performed quite frequently at Covent Garden during the 1780 and '90s. The Register lists just the titles and dates of performance. No doubt further data such as full titles and authors will be found in other sources, but in the meantime the dates of performance are collected on this page. Two other titles possibly related to the Robin Hood tradition also figure quite frequently: Marian (at Covent Garden) and Richard Coeur de Lion (at Drury Lane). The dates for these pieces are listed on the "Discussion" page.

Performances of pieces entitled "Robin Hood"

1784
- April 17, 19-20^[1], 30^[2]
- May 3, 5, 11-14, 19, 24, 31^[3]
- October 12, 15, 22^[4]
- November 2, 9^[5]
- December 10^[6]
1785
- April 15^[7]
- October 21^[8]
1787
- October 18, 20, 24-25, 27, 30^[9]
- November 1, 3, 6, 10, 17, 21, 24, 27^[10]
- December 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 19^[11]
1788
- January 8, 19, 26^[12]
- February 2, 26^[13]
- April 15^[14]
- May 13^[15]
- October 21^[16]
1789
- January 7, 24^[17]
- April 21^[18]
- June 2^[19]
1790
- March 23^[20]
- October 13^[21]
- November 12, 18^[22]
- December 15^[23]
1791
- February 12^[24]
- May 11^[25]
- June 2^[26]

Allusions

1907 - Swindells, Thomas - Manchester Streets and Manchester Men

WRIGHT BOWDEN.

A very different type of man from the Ormes was Wright Bowden whose fame as a singer and actor was known throughout the country a cenury ago. The son of an innkeeper (his father kept the Unicorn in Old Smithy Door in 1773), he soon showed unmistakable histrionic ability and made his way to London. There he attracted the attention of the celebrated Madame Mara, and made his first London appearance in Robin Hood at the Old Covent Garden Theatre. Michael Kelly, who was present, says: "He was received with great applause, his voice was good, and he sang with taste." Mrs. Billington was in the caste [sic], and she joined in the universal congratulations that were showered upon the new actor. After a succesful season in London, Bowden visited many of the provincial towns, where he rapidly became a favourite. He appeared on our Manchester stage several times, the first occasion being in 1788. Two years later he was here again playing Macheath, Ferdinand, and other characters. After a succesful career he retired from the stage, and returning to Manchester took up his residence at a boarding house that stood in Piccadilly, near to Port Street. He died there on April 16, 1823, in his 71st year, and was buried in St. Mary's Churchyard Parsonage.^[27]

Background

Wikipedia: Royal Opera House.

Notes

Dramas-specific

[1] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LIV, pt. 1 (1784), p. 284

[2] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LIV, pt. 1 (1784), p. 394

[3] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LIV, pt. 1 (1784), p. 394

[4] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LIV, pt. 2 (1784), p. 874

[5] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LIV, pt. 2 (1784), p. 874

[6] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LIV, pt. 2 (1784), p. 912

[7] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LV, pt. 1 (1785), p. 304

[8] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LV, pt. 2 (1785), p. 816

[9] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LVII, pt. 2 (1787), p. 939

[10] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LVII, pt. 2 (1787), p. 1035

[11] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LVII, pt. 2 (1787), p. 1131

[12] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LVIII, pt. 1 (1788), p. 87

[13] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LVIII, pt. 1 (1788), p. 183

[14] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LVIII, pt. 1 (1788), p. 375

[15] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LVIII, pt. 1 (1788), p. 471

[16] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LVIII, pt. 2 (1788), p. 1035

[17] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LIX, pt. 1 (1789), p. 91

[18] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LIX, pt. 1 (1789), p. 379

[19] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LIX, pt. 1 (1789), p. 579

[20] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LX, pt. 1 (1790), p. 283

[21] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LX, pt. 2 (1790), p. 963

[22] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LX, pt. 2 (1790), p. 1059

[23] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LX, pt. 2 (1790), p. 1155

[24] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LXI, pt. 1 (1791), p. 287

[25] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LXI, pt. 1 (1791), p. 495

[26] Anonymous, compil. 'Theatrical Register', Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LXI, pt. 1 (1791), p. 591

[27] Swindells, T. Manchester Streets and Manchester Men. Second Series (Manchester, 1907), p. 102.

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