The Theatrical Steel-Yards of 1750

Rare satirical engraving depicting the rivalry between Drury Lane and Covent Garden Theatres London.

The Licensing Act of 1737 ensured that only Drury Lane and Covent Garden, the two “Theatres Royal,” could regularly produce plays. The caricature seen here refers to a pivotal moment in the ongoing rivalry between Drury Lane and Covent Garden.

During his first few years managing Drury Lane, Garrick was content to let John Rich continue Covent Garden’s virtual monopoly on expensive, elaborate, crowd-pleasing pantomimes, then on Boxing Day, 1750, Garrick risked a direct challenge with Queen Mab, a new pantomime by Henry Woodward. As the caricature shows, the risk paid off, with Garrick easily outweighing the talents of Rich’s Covent Garden (Peg Woffington, Spranger Barry, James Quin and Susannah Cibber^[. Henry Woodward, in his harlequin costume, holds up “Queen Mab.”

From the mouth of a satyr is suspended a great steelyard, and in the mouth is a riband inscribed “Totus mundus agit histrionem.” At one end of the steelyard is Garrick waving his helmet triumphantly, and weighing down the united performers at Covent Garden Theatre, not wanting the additional weight of Queen Mab, whom Woodward, as Harlequin, is ready to place on the hook prepared for her. On the other side, rising, are Mrs. Woffington, Mr. Barry, Mr. Quin as “Falstaff”, and Mrs. Cibber. On the ground, in great distress, is Rich, with an ample coat thrown over his harlequin dress. He was the manager of Covent Garden Theatre, and is grieved to see Garrick alone more attractive at Drury Lane Theatre than those actors who appeared at his own theatre. He was also grieved to find in Woodward so formidable a rival as a harlequin, in which character he had attained reputation.–From George.