Garrick’s festival entertains a Birmingham audience

On stage at Birmingham’s Theatre in 1796 was an evening’s entertainment which included elements of a famous pageant to Shakespeare.

It had been devised by the actor-manager David Garrick, nearly thirty years before the show we see advertised in this 18th century playbill.

Garrick’s festival in 1769 was the first official commemoration of Shakespeare and designed to celebrate 200 years since the birth of the Bard (he was out by five years!).

The original festival had intended to run across three days, however heavy rain on day three caused flooding as the River Avon burst its bank and the performances in the specially erected rotunda had to be abandoned. The pageant was performed later at the Drury Lane Theatre and according to sources was a great success. Demand was so great that it was performed on 90 consecutive days.

'The Jubilee' was written by Garrick to capitalise on the popularity of his actual Jubilee. The two part afterpiece is enlivened by music, spectacle and the kind of humour which mocks stereotypes – naïve locals, exploited visitors, comic Irishmen, just the sort to appeal to a sophisticated audience. All the spectators in nearby Birmingham had to do was enjoy the performance!