Sarah Ward (theatre manager) facts for kids

Sarah Ward (1726-1771) was a Scottish stage actor and a very important theatre manager. She made history as the first woman to manage a theatre in Edinburgh!

Sarah was born to an English actor named Thomas Achurch. She later married Henry Ward, who was also an actor and a writer for plays. In 1745, Sarah and Henry worked with Thomas Este's Taylor Halls Company in Edinburgh. This company later split into two groups. Sarah Ward bravely took charge of one of these new theatre companies. Her company opened at the famous Canongate Theatre in Edinburgh in 1747.

A Star on Stage

In 1748, Sarah Ward performed for the first time in London. After that, she traveled a lot, performing with different theatre groups all over England and Scotland. She often came back to Edinburgh, where she was very popular.

Between 1755 and 1758, Sarah was a main performer at the Edinburgh Theatre. She worked alongside another actor, West Digges. Sarah was a truly celebrated artist in Scotland. Her most famous role was playing Lady Barnet in a play called Douglas, written by John Home.

Later Years

In 1758, Sarah left Scotland. After performing for one season in Dublin, she moved to London. There, she became active at the well-known Covent Garden theatre. Sarah Ward passed away in 1771. She is remembered as a talented actress and a pioneering woman in theatre management.