Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Astley's Amphitheatre

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Astley's Amphitheatre The First Circus Victoria and Albert Museum

Astley's Amphitheatre was a performance venue in London opened by Philip Astley in 1773.

Contents

History

Astley's Amphitheatre Astley39s Royal Amphitheatre London Street Views

The Amphitheatre opened in 1773 with The Wallet of Time. The structure was burned in 1794, then rebuilt. With increasing prosperity and rebuilding after successive fires, it grew to become Astley's Royal Amphitheatre and this was the home of the circus. The location of the theatre was Westminster Bridge Road in Lambeth.

Astley's Amphitheatre Astley39s Amphitheatre Jane Austen39s World

Astley's original circus was 62 ft (~19 m) in diameter, and later he settled it at 42 ft (~13 m), which has been an international standard for circuses since.

Astley's Amphitheatre Astley39s Amphitheatre Jane Austen39s World

William Batty (1801-1868), perhaps best known as the owner of Batty's Hippodrome, acquired Astley's from Andrew Ducrow (1793-1842) in 1841, after the building sustained its third fire, causing Ducrow to suffer a mental breakdown and die in early 1842. Batty ran Astley's until 1853, at which time William Cooke leased the building. Cooke would run Astley's until 1860.

Astley's Amphitheatre Astley39s Amphitheatre Jane Austen39s World

The theatre continued to be popular long after Astley's death in 1814. Its final owner was "Lord" George Sanger, who bought it for £11,000 in 1871 and ran it as "Sanger's Amphitheatre" for over 20 years. It finally closed and was demolished in 1893.

Astley's Amphitheatre Jane Austen Gazetteer Astley39s Amphitheatre

Jane Austen in her 1815 novel Emma, credits a visit to Astley's for bringing about the reconciliation and engagement of Robert Martin and Harriet Smith.

Astley's Amphitheatre httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Charles Dickens wrote a short story titled, Astley's, about the theatre, in his 1836 book, Sketches by Boz. He describes an evening at Astley's in chapter 39 of The Old Curiosity Shop, and the circus is also referred to in Hard Times (Book 3 chapter 7).

Astley's Amphitheatre Astley39s Amphitheatre Jane Austen39s World

Pablo Fanque, the black circus equestrian and circus owner, best known from his mention in The Beatles song "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" on the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, made his London debut at Astley's in 1847.

Tracy Chevalier's 2007 novel Burning Bright is set at Astley's in 1792-93.

Astley's Amphitheatre Theatre Database Theatre Architecture database projects

  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainGilman, D. C.; Thurston, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "article name needed". New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead. 
  • References

    Astley's Amphitheatre Wikipedia


    Similar Topics