18th Century Women in Drama

With the increased participation of women in 18th century drama, there were a few prominent women who really stood out.  Below you will find links and information about  two of these extraordinary women and the contributions they made to the theatre and their successes therein.

Background Information

The History of the London Theatre

-This site offers a useful chronology of the London Theatre.

The Typical Roles of Women

-This site highlights the nature of the roles that were played out by Women

Who Were the Writers of the 18th Century?

Aphra Behn

Aphra Behn differed from the women playwrights who came before her in that she was "forced to write for Bread and not ashamed to own it ("To the Reader," Sir Patient Fancy).  Little is known about her life prior to 1666 when she went to Antwerp as a secret agent for the English governement.  Penniless and in debt, she returned to England in 1667 where, despite appeals to the governement, she was put in debtor's prison.  Upon her release, "the Rest of her Life was entirely dedicated to Pleasure and Poetry; the success in which gained her the Acquaintance and Friendship of the most sensible Men of the Age" ("Memoirs on the Life of Mrs. Aphra Behn).  Between 1670 and 1689, Aphra Behn produced 17 plays but numerous poems, novels and translations.

The Poetry of Mrs. Aphra Behn

Biography of Aphra Behn

Full Text of "Oroonoko"

Full Text of the Rover

Susannah Centlivre

Susannah Centlivre was a writer and actress born in 1667.  When she was sixteen years old she  married the nephew of Sir Stephen Fox, and after his death she married an officer named Carroll, who was killed in a duel.  Left in poverty, she began to support herself, writing for the stage, and some of her early plays are signed S. Carroll.  In 1706, she married Joseph Cenlivre, a chief cook to Queen Anne who survived her.  She never seems to have acted in London, but she was a friend of Rowe, Farquhar, and Steele.  She died on December 1, 1723.  Her dramatic works were published with a biography in 1761.

Biography and Play List

Commentaries on Selected Works

Who Were the Actresses that Set the Stage?

With the acceptance of women filling roles in dramatic productions, there emerged some very talented women who, despite a certain level of adversity, shone on the stage.  Some of these actresses include, Charlotte Charke, Nell Gwyn, Elizabeth Barry, and Lady Henrietta Maria Davenant.  Since reliable electronic infomation is limited, the links below will provide some information two of these women.  For further information on any and all of these women, please see the printed reference section.

Nell Gywn

Nell Gwyn is said to have started her life as a flower seller in Drury Lane.  She went on to be a popular comedienne at the Theatre Royal also in Drury lane.  She is famously remembered as the courtesan of Charles II, and bore him two sons, Charles and James.

Short Biography of Nell Gywn

Elizabeth Barry

Elizabeth Barry was an English Actress, of whose early life the details are meagre.  At first she was so unsuccessful on the stage as to be more than once dismissed; but she was coached by her lover the earl of Rochester, who had laid a wager that in a short time he would make a first-rate actress of her, and the results confirmed his judgment.

Short Biography of Elizabeth Barry

Selected Bibliography

Armistead, J.M. "Four Restoration Playwrights : A Reference  Guide to Thomas     Shadwell, Aphra Behn, Nathaniel Lee, and Thomas Otway".  Boston: G.K. Hall (1984). Fidelis, Morgan.  "The Well Known Trouble Maker: A Life of Charlotte Charke".  London: Faber and Faber (1988). Fraser, Antonia "The Weaker Vessel".  New York: Alfred A. Knopf (1984). Gartenberg, Patricia, and Nena Thames Wittemore.  "A Checklist of English Women in Print, 1475-1640".  Bulletin of Bibliography and Magazine Notes 34 (1977): 1-3. Hughes, Derek. ed.  "Eighteenth Century Women Playwrights".  Oxford: Pickering and Chatto (2001) Pearson, Jacqueline.  "The Prostituted Muse: Images of Women and Women Dramatists 1642-1737".  New York: Harvester (1988). Peavy, Charles D.  "The Chimerical Career of Charlotte Charke."  Restoration and 18th Century Theatre Research 8 (1969): 1-12 Roberts, David.  "The Ladies: Female patronage of Restoration Drama 1600-1700".  Oxford: Oxford University Press (1989). Not all journal articles are availaible on line.  They have been retrieved from EBSCOHOST, a paid service.  All consumers with a log in and PIN will be able to access the articles.