Thomas Griffith (actor) facts for kids

Thomas Griffith (1680-1744) was an Irish stage actor and a theatre manager. He was an important person in the world of plays and performances in Dublin during his time.

Who Was Thomas Griffith?

Thomas Griffith was born in Dublin, Ireland. His family had roots in Wales. When he was young, he worked as an apprentice in Dublin. An apprentice is someone who learns a skill or job by working with an expert. During this time, he was discovered by Joseph Ashbury, who was involved with the famous Smock Alley Theatre.

Early Life and Acting Career

At the Smock Alley Theatre, Griffith became good friends with another actor named Robert Wilks. Wilks probably encouraged Griffith to try acting in London, England. Even though Griffith did perform in London sometimes, most of his acting career happened in Dublin. He loved the stage in his home city.

From 1721 to 1729, Griffith held an important job called the Master of the Revels in Ireland. This meant he was in charge of overseeing plays, music, and other entertainment for the government. He made sure everything was proper and approved.

Leading Theatres in Dublin

Thomas Griffith became the manager of the Smock Alley Theatre. A theatre manager is like the boss of the theatre. They handle everything from choosing plays to managing the actors and staff.

Later, in 1734, Griffith left Smock Alley to start his own theatre. This new place was called the Aungier Street Theatre. It became a competitor to Smock Alley. For a while, these two theatres were rivals, meaning they competed for audiences and actors.

In 1743, the two rival theatres decided to join forces. They merged to create one big company. This new company performed plays at both the Smock Alley and Aungier Street theatres. However, not everyone was happy about this merger. A very famous actor named Thomas Sheridan did not like the idea. He decided to leave Dublin and went to perform at the Drury Lane in London, which was a very well-known theatre.

Not long after the theatres merged, Thomas Griffith passed away on January 23, 1744.

His Family's Legacy

Thomas Griffith's children also became involved in the world of theatre. His daughter was Elizabeth Griffith. She became a well-known actress and also wrote plays. His son, Richard, followed in his father's footsteps too. Richard became an actor and worked with the famous theatre manager David Garrick at the Drury Lane Company in London.