Mrs siddons gainsborough
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Posted on 29 January 2024.
Posted in: HT Blogs
The World Premiere of April De Angelis’ brand new comedy The Divine Mrs S, which opens on the Main Stage on the 22 March, explores the life of actor Sarah Siddons – the most famous woman you have probably never heard of!
In the late Georgian era, Sarah Siddons was considered the country’s most talented tragic actress, most famous for her spectacular portrayal of Lady Macbeth. Referred to as the Queen of Drury Lane, she was adored by many, despite rising to fame at a time when acting wasn't considered a respectable profession for women. An actress and a muse, her portraits and statues can be found in galleries from London to California - likelihood is you have walked past her multiple times!
| The artwork for the production features Sir Thomas Gainsborough's portrait of Sarah Siddons which is displayed at the National Portrait Gallery. | |
A large statue of Sarah sits in Paddington Green outside Westminster. When Sarah died in 1831, 5000 people attended her funeral here on Paddington Green. | |
In the chape
Thomas Gainsborough, 'Mrs Siddons', 1785Mrs Siddons (1755–1831) was the greatest tragic actress of her time, remaining at the top of her profession for 30 years. The writer and critic William Hazlitt wrote that ‘She was Tragedy, personified...To have seen Mrs Siddons was an event in everybody’s life’. Gainsborough painted her in the winter of 1784–5, during her third London season. As Sarah Kemble, she was born into a theatrical family. Four of her brothers became actors, the most famous of whom was John Philip Kemble. Aged 18, she married the actor William Siddons in 1773 and was thereafter known professionally as Mrs Siddons. Although she had acted in provincial theatres since childhood, Mrs Siddons’s first London appearance, at Drury Lane in 1775, was not a success. However, when she returned again in the winter season of 1782–3, she created a sensation, causing the theatre management to put up her salary from £5 to £20 for the next season and resulting in a ‘long and unbroken line of carriages’ rolling toward
Sarah SiddonsSarah Siddons (5 July 1755 – 8 June 1831) was a Welshactress. She was the best-known actress who played tragedies of the 18th century. She was the older sister of John Philip Kemble, Charles Kemble, Stephen Kemble, Ann Hatton and Elizabeth Whitlock. She is very famous for the way she played the Shakespearean character Lady Macbeth. She grew to like the character very much.[1] Biography[change | change source]Youth[change | change source]She was born Sarah Kemble in Brecon, Brecknockshire, Wales. She was the oldest daughter of Roger Kemble, an actor and manager. He travelled around with his company, which included most members of his family, and Sarah "Sally" Ward. Acting was only just becoming a respectable profession for a woman. At first, her parents did not like the fact that she had chosen to become an actress. Career[change | change source]In 1774, Siddons had her first success as Belvidera in Thomas Otway's Venice Preserved. Because of this role, David Garrick noticed her. Garrick later sent someone to see her act as Calist Copyright ©popfray.pages.dev 2025 |