Anne Shadwell facts for kids
Anne Shadwell was an important English actress from the 1600s. She was one of the very first women to act on stage in England. This happened after the English Restoration in 1660. Before this time, only men performed in plays.
In 1660, a man named William Davenant chose Anne to join his new acting group. It was called the Duke's Company. At that time, her maiden name was Anne Gibbs. Between 1663 and 1667, she married the famous writer Thomas Shadwell. They had four children together.
Anne's acting appearances became less frequent after 1672. She might have stopped acting when the United Company was formed in 1682. After her husband died in 1692, she received most of his property. In 1709, she was involved with the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. She joined a request to Queen Anne with the theatre manager, Christopher Rich. We don't know what happened to her after this time.
Anne Shadwell's Stage Roles
Anne Shadwell played many different characters during her acting career. Here are some of the roles she performed in plays:
- Lucia in The Cutter of Coleman Street by Abraham Cowley (1661)
- Decio in The Slighted Maid by Robert Stapylton (1662)
- Heraclia in The Rivals by William Davenant (1664)
- Cleora in Mustapha by Roger Boyle (1665)
- Emelia in The Sullen Lovers by Thomas Shadwell (1668)
- Lady Cockwood in She Would If She Could by George Etherege (1668)
- Claina The Women's Conquest by Edward Howard (1670)
- Irene in Charles VIII of France by John Crowne (1671)
- Joanna in Juliana by John Crowne (1671)
- Celinda in The Six Days' Adventure by Edward Howard (1671)
- Caelia in The Fatal Jealousy by Henry Nevil Payne (1672)
- Lucia in Epsom Wells by Thomas Shadwell (1672)
- Rose in The Morning Ramble by Henry Nevil Payne (1672)
- Clara in The Cheats of Scapin by Thomas Otway (1676)
- Arbella in Madam Fickle by Thomas D'Urfey (1676)
- Lady Gimcrack in The Virtuoso by Thomas Shadwell (1676)
- Beatrice in The Wrangling Lovers by Edward Ravenscroft (1676)
- Mrs Essence in Tom Essence by Thomas Rawlins (1676)
- Duchess of Eboli in Don Carlos, Prince of Spain by Thomas Otway (1676)
- Clarina in The Counterfeit Bridegroom by Aphra Behn (1677)
- Victoria in Friendship in Fashion by Thomas Otway (1678)
- Maundy in Sir Patient Fancy by Aphra Behn (1678)
- Flora in The Counterfeits by John Leanerd (1678)
- Lucinda in The Loving Enemies by Lewis Maidwell (1680)
