Drury Lane Theatre is one of the “Two Play Houses” in London, the other being Covent Garden, and is host to a majority of the most famous plays performed in the 18th century.
Opened in 1663, it is located near Covent Garden Market. The theatre is still in use today.
In Volume I, Letter X, Evelina writes to Rev. Villars that one of the first places she visits in London is Drury Lane Theatre.
The theatre was able to hold 2,300 people and plays would begin around 6:15 p.m. The seating at Drury Lane was divided into four classes. The First-Class seating was for “people of quality” and would be placed in the Boxes. The Second-Class seating was located in the Pits and this was intended for citizens and their ladies, wits and critics, sharpers, and courtezans. The Third class was located in the middle gallery and this was typically where people of the middle class would sit. People of lower class, such as the servants and apprentices, would be seated in the Fourth location and this was referred to as “the seat of noise.” The most you would spend for a seat at the theatre was five shillings and that would place you in the Boxes sitting among people of high class (Burney 413). In the photo below, there is an image of a ticket from 1776 that you would receive to sit in Box seating at Drury Lane.
Evelina would have most likely either been seated in the Boxes or the Pit since she was accompanying the Mirvans.
The first performance they saw was The Suspicious Husband with famous actor, manager, patentee, playwright, and poet David Garrick playing the role of Ranger. Evelina described him as “so celebrated, so universally admired–I had not any idea of so great a performer” (Burney 27). Francis Burney projected her love for Mr. Garrick and Drury Lane through Evelina. Evelina even enthusiastically wrote to Rev. Villars, “I intend to ask Mrs. Mirvan to go to the play every night while we stay in town” (Burney 28).
In the images below, you will see an engraving of Mr. Garrick as the character of the Ranger, and an advertisement from London’s Public Advertiser promoting a performance from Mr. Garrick in The Suspicious Husband.
Evelina also saw two other plays during her time in London: William Shakespeare’s King Lear and William Congreve’s Love for Love.
Drury Lane remains a popular spot to enjoy famous plays or musicals. If you happen to find yourself in London, book a ticket to a show and see a similar experience to what Evelina would have experienced in the 18th century and perhaps you will develop a similar love for the theatre as she did.
Bethany Brennan, Washington & Jefferson College.
Work Cited
Burney, Francis. Evelina. Oxford University Press, New York, 2002.
Place in Frances Burney's EVELINA 