The Ghost of Drury Lane
The most historic and oldest of all theatres in London, the Theatre Royal stands on the oldest site in the world to have been continually used as a playhouse. The first theatre built in 1663 and burnt in 1672 was the venue for Nell Gwynn;s stage debut. King Charles II took Nell as his mistress after falling in love with her at first sight during a performance in 1665. A new theatre holding 2000 patrons opened in 1674. Through a lack of finance this building quickly showed serious signs of neglect and in 1794 was replaced by a third theatre with a capacity of 3,611, but it too succumbed to fire in 1809. The theatre that stands on the site today was opened in 1812 with money raised in part by Lord Byron and Whitbread and since then has witnessed many notable performances and events. "The Man in Grey", the theatre's famous ghost appears during the day, but never at night, in the auditorium of the theatre. He is dressed in elaborate costume, including a tricorn hat, powdered wig and cloak, and carries a sword. To see him during rehearsal is considered to be good luck. Sometimes appearing during a performance, he's apt to shush patrons rather than scare them, he comes to watch the play from the balcony where he slowly walks from one end to the other only to disappear into the wall. Some believe that this ghost is a man that was murdered in the theatre some 200 years ago, whose skeleton was found in a sealed room backstage with a dagger still wedged in the ribcage.dressed in long riding cloak, boots and three-cornered hat. He is said to haunt the Upper Circle,
The most historic and oldest of all theatres in London, the Theatre Royal stands on the oldest site in the world to have been continually used as a playhouse. The first theatre built in 1663 and burnt in 1672 was the venue for Nell Gwynn;s stage debut. King Charles II took Nell as his mistress after falling in love with her at first sight during a performance in 1665. A new theatre holding 2000 patrons opened in 1674. Through a lack of finance this building quickly showed serious signs of neglect and in 1794 was replaced by a third theatre with a capacity of 3,611, but it too succumbed to fire in 1809. The theatre that stands on the site today was opened in 1812 with money raised in part by Lord Byron and Whitbread and since then has witnessed many notable performances and events. "The Man in Grey", the theatre's famous ghost appears during the day, but never at night, in the auditorium of the theatre. He is dressed in elaborate costume, including a tricorn hat, powdered wig and cloak, and carries a sword. To see him during rehearsal is considered to be good luck. Sometimes appearing during a performance, he's apt to shush patrons rather than scare them, he comes to watch the play from the balcony where he slowly walks from one end to the other only to disappear into the wall. Some believe that this ghost is a man that was murdered in the theatre some 200 years ago, whose skeleton was found in a sealed room backstage with a dagger still wedged in the ribcage.dressed in long riding cloak, boots and three-cornered hat. He is said to haunt the Upper Circle,
0 comments