Astley's Amphitheatre (1773 - 1891)
Organisation
Dates
- Existence: 1773 - 1891
Biography
Astley's Amphitheatre also known as Astley’s Royal Amphitheatre, was founded by circus performer and entrepreneur Philip Astley in 1773 in Westminster Bridge Road, Lambeth, London. Astley’s was considered the first home of modern circus and as such had a lot of prestige among circus impresarios, who took over its management over the years.
The Amphitheatre was built out of wood and lit up by candlelight and later gas, which made if vulnerable to fire. It was destroyed by fire and rebuilt on several occasion including in 1794 and 1803.
Astley achieved such prestige during his lifetime that his amphitheatre continued operating long after his death first managed by his brother and then by some of the most successful names in British circus including Andrew Ducrow, William Batty, William Cooke and George Sanger who acquired it in 1871 and operated it for more than twenty years.
Found in 14 Collections and/or Records:
Astley's Programme, c1864 - 1868
Item
Reference code: 178K43.4
Scope and Contents
14th November and all the week. Miss Ada Isaacs Menken as Mazeppa, Mr. Gresham, Mr. Montague, Mr. Atkins, Mr. Johnstone, Mr. G. Craig, Mr. Webber, Miss Julia Seaman, Mrs. E. F. Edgar, Miss Minnie Clifford, Mr. Basil Potter, Mr. Henry Frazer, Mr. J. Craddock, Mr. W. Templeton, Miss Liversey, M. Milano and Miss Annie Cooke in Mazeppa, Sig. Redmond on his Indian rope trick, Mr. Dulcimer Pipes, Mr. Atkins, Mr. W. Templeton, Mr. Johnstone, Mr. G. Atkins, Mrs. E. F. Edgar and Miss Minnie Clifford...
Dates:
c1864 - 1868
Astley's Programme, c1864 - 1868
Item
Reference code: 178K43.5
Scope and Contents
Saturday 19th October, Monday 21st and following nights. Farewell performance of Miss Adah Isaacs Menken, Mr. Felix Rogers, Mr. David Evans, Mr. Walter Carle, Mr. Arthur, Mr. Craddock, and Miss Josephine Fiddes in Good for Nothing, Mr. David Evans, Mr. Walter Carle, Mr. H. River, Mr. Felix Rogers, Miss Josephine Fiddes, Mrs. Bishop, Miss Julia Craven, Mr. Bassil Potter, Miss Adah Isaacs Menken, Mr. Vivian, Mr. Craddock, Mr. Bentley, Mr. Arthur and Miss Duberry in Mazeppa and the Wild Horse....
Dates:
c1864 - 1868
Astley's Programme, Monday 9 October 1864 and during the week
Item
Reference code: 178K43.6
Scope and Contents
Miss Adah Isaacs Menken, Mr. J. Elphinstone, Mr. Basil Potter, Mr. T. J. Anderson, Mr. Atkins, Mr. E. Garden, Mr. W. M. Terrott, Mrs. St. Henry, Miss Kate Carson, Mr. J. Russell, Mr. J. B. Johnstone, Mr. Webster, Mr. Bedford, Mr. Templeton, Mr. Prichard, in Child of the Sun, Miss Carline Parkes, Mr. Webster, Mr. Prichard, Miss Amy Cleveland, Miss M. Morton, Miss Harriett Pelham, Miss Pelham, Master Granger, Miss Louise Laidlaw, Miss Minnie Sidney, Miss Nelly Nesbitt, Mr. Atkins, Miss Lizzie...
Dates:
Monday 9 October 1864 and during the week
Astley's Programme, c1864 - 1868
Item
Reference code: 178K43.7
Scope and Contents
Monday 11th November and following evenings. Farewell performance of Miss Adah Isaacs Menken, Mr. Felix Rogers, Mr. David Evans, Mr. Clifford, Mr. Bentley, Miss Beatrice Marston and Miss Julia Craven in That Rascal Jack, Mr. Evans, Mr. Walter Carle, Mr. H. Rivers, Mr. Felix Rogers, Miss Josephine Fiddes, Miss Julia Craven, Mr. Basil Potter, Miss Adah Isaacs Menken, Mr. Vivian, Mr. Craddock, Mr. Bentley, Mr. Arthur and Miss Duberry in Mazeppa and the Wild Horse. Black type on white background...
Dates:
c1864 - 1868
Astley's Programme, Monday 3 July 1865 and during the week
Item
Reference code: 178K43.8
Scope and Contents
Miss Adah Isaacs Menken, Mr. Johnstone, Miss Nisbitt, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Atkins, Mrs. C. Wharton, Miss Ada Edson and Miss Minnie Sidney in The Wandering Minstrel, Mr. Gresham, Mr. T. J. Anderson, Mr. J. B. Johnstone, Mr. Atkins, Mr. Weaver, Miss Josephine Fidder, Mrs. C. Wharton, Miss Nisbitt, Mr. Basil Potter, Miss Adah Isaacs Menken, Mr. Johnstone, Mr. Cradddock, Mr. Shelton, Mr. Harry Croueste, Miss Ninnie Sidney and Miss Clifton in Mazippa or the Wild Horse of Tartary, Mr. G. Craig, Mr....
Dates:
Monday 3 July 1865 and during the week
Astley's Royal Amphitheatre Programme, c1800 - 1899
Item
Reference code: 178K43.1
Scope and Contents
M. Alphonse Thevelin, aerial gymnast, Mr. Alfred Cooke, family and pupils on 3rd week of the Equestrian Gala, The Chase or Life on the Turf, Mr. William Cooke's Scenes in the Arena, equestrian gala including, Miss Clarissa Cooke in aerial poses, Young Godolphin in the Postilion of Lilliput, Mr. W. Barlow in Punch in Paris, Mr. Boswell in Polandric Exercises, Madlle. Marie in Leap of Banners, Madlle. Rebecca and Mr. W. Barlow in Sylph-Like Echo and Charming Narcissus, Mr. Alfred Cooke, The...
Dates:
c1800 - 1899
Astley's Royal Amphitheatre Programme, Monday 28 June 1852 and during the week
Item
Reference code: 178K43.2
Scope and Contents
Mr. Alfred Cooke, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Craddock, Mr. Widdicomb, Mr. Tibbs, Signor Chiarini, Mr. Baswell, Mr. T. Barry, Mrs. Aldred Cooke, Miss Lydia Pearce, Mrs. Moreton Brookes, Mr. C. Leclercq Junior, Mr. S. Smith, Mr. Hustleby, Mr. Johnson, Mr. F. Hustleby, Miss Fenton and Miss T. Avery in St. George and the Dragon or the Seven Champions of Christendom, Batty's Scenes in the Arena including, Cavalcade, Tom Thumb on two horses, Madlle. Louise Massotta in Leap of Streamers, Signor Chiarini...
Dates:
Monday 28 June 1852 and during the week
Astley's Royal Amphitheatre Programme, Saturday 22nd October, Monday 24th October and during the week 1853
Item
Reference code: 178K43.3
Scope and Contents
Miss Kate Cooke, Europe's National Amphitheatre, Mr. Aldred Cooke, Mr. James Barlow, Mr. A. Bridges, Mr. William Barlow, Mons. Schmidt, Sig. Carlottie, Sig. Francois, Sig. Croueste, Sig. Bezzini, Mr. R. Smith, Mr. Stonette, Mr. Widdicomb, Master Victor Cooke, Master Alfred Cooke, Master Harry Cooke, Master Bradbury, Master Tom Thumb, Master Gee, Master W. Gee, Mister William Cooke, Miss Kate Cooke, Mrs. Alfred Cooke, Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Bradbury, Mad. Bridges, Mad. Schmidt, Mad. Bezzini,...
Dates:
Saturday 22nd October, Monday 24th October and during the week 1853
Astley's Theatre Programme, 5 November 1883
Item
Reference code: 178K43.26
Scope and Contents
Westminster Bridge Road. Mr. Harry J. C. Vernon, Mr. J. G. Wilton, Mr. Fred Evans, Mrs. J. F. Brian, Mr. W. D. Gresham, Mr. Metcalfe, Mr. George Reeves, Miss Louise Neville, Mr. Alfred Balfour, Miss Kate Forrester, Miss M. Reeves and Miss Maud Forrester in Giddy Godiva or The Girl who was Sent to Coventry, Mr. Lewis Sealey, Mr. Harry J. C. Vernon, Mr. L. Webster, Mr. J. G. Wilton, Mr. Richards, Mr. A. Balfour, Miss Kate Neville, Mrs. J. Elmore, Mrs. J. F. Brian, Mr. W. D. Gresham, Miss Maude...
Dates:
5 November 1883
Circus Friends Association Collection
Fonds
Reference code: NFA0122
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses
Dates:
1795 - 2020
Found in:
National Fairground and Circus Archive
Early Circus Programmes, c1800 - 1999
Sub-Series
Reference code: 178K43.1-28
Scope and Contents
Early British circus and variety programmes including Astley's, Batty's and Lord George Sanger's circus.
Dates:
c1800 - 1999
John Bramwell Taylor Collection
Fonds
Reference code: NFA0086
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of handbills, programmes and small flyers for shows, fairs, expositions and circus performances in the nineteenth century. The circus material in the Bramwell Taylor Collection was sponsored by the Circus Friends Association of Great Britain and consists of material relating to 19th century touring circuses, individual acts and purpose built hippodromes such as Hengler’s Circus and Astley’s Amphitheatre. Additionally this collection also contains a small amount of...
Dates:
c1786 - 2003
Found in:
National Fairground and Circus Archive
Programmes, c1800 - 2019
Series
Reference code: 178K43
Scope and Contents
A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.
Dates:
c1800 - 2019
Sanger Circus Collection
Fonds
Reference code: NFA0154
Scope and Contents
Black and white and some colour photographs, negatives, handbills, programmes and other items of ephemera relating George Sanger's circus and the Hall by the Sea.
Dates:
c1850 - 1945
Found in:
National Fairground and Circus Archive