Letter from Sarah Macready to the Theatre proprietors

Sarah Macready became the Theatre ’s manager in 1834 – five years after her husband died. Sarah repeatedly faced opposition because she was a woman. The Proprietors reluctantly granted her a lease, but only on a short-term basis which made hiring performers difficult. This letter shows her desire to repair and redesign aspects of the Theatre , and her struggle to be granted funds to do so.

DesPite their hesitancy and the economic decline of the King Street area, Sarah was a successful manager who kept the Theatre afloat through significant adversity. Newspaper obituaries recalled her "great tact, energy and judgement" and "warm interest in her profession."

This item was digitised by Bristol Archives as part of Bristol Old Vic’s “Protecting and Sharing the Heritage of Britain’s Oldest Theatre ” project, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.