Royal Licence to George D'aubeny for Theatre Royal Bristol

Competition for audiences was strong, particularly between the Theatre s in Bristol and Bath.

In 1768 the Theatre Royal Bath was granted a Royal Licence. Four years later a rival Theatre company led by Laurence Kennedy and John Booth opened in Coopers’ Hall, next door to our Theatre .

Without a licence, the Proprietors couldn’t report their unwanted neighbours to the authorities, as they were committing the same crime. This stalemate prompted Proprietor George Daubney to reapply for a Royal Licence and on 27 April 1778 it was approved, desPite some local opposition.

Twelve years after it’s opening, the Theatre became a legal venture. From then on ‘the New Theatre in King Street’ was known as the Theatre Royal, Bristol.

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.