William Macready the Elder facts for kids
William Macready the Elder (1755–1829) was an Irish actor and theatre manager. He was known for performing in plays and also for running theatres in different towns.
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Early Life and Acting Beginnings
William Macready was born in Dublin, Ireland. His father was an upholsterer. William started his acting career in small towns across Ireland. In 1782, he joined the Capel Street Theatre in Dublin. He later moved to the Crow Street Theatre and then the Mill Gate Theatre. By 1785, he was part of the company at the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin.
After being introduced by another actor, Charles Macklin, Macready moved to England. He performed in Liverpool and Manchester in 1786.
Moving to Management
Macready spent some time acting in London, but he mostly played smaller parts. He wanted to do more, so he decided to become an actor-manager. This meant he would not only act but also run theatres and manage the actors.
He started managing theatres in places like Birmingham around 1795. In 1797, he tried to manage a theatre in Wellclose Square, east of London, but it wasn't very successful.
Running Theatres in the Countryside
William Macready is best known for managing theatres in towns and cities outside of London. He managed theatres in Birmingham, Sheffield, and other places. In 1806, he took over the theatre in Newcastle and ran it until 1818. He also tried to manage theatres in Manchester, but he faced some financial difficulties.
In 1813, Macready built the very first theatre in Carlisle, on Blackfriars Street. Later, in 1821, he was managing a theatre in Whitehaven.
Later Years in Bristol
In 1819, Macready took over the Theatre Royal in Bristol. He brought in other talented actors like Daniel Terry and Elizabeth Yates to help start his new management there. His own son, William Charles Macready, also helped him.
William Macready the Elder passed away in Bristol on April 11, 1829, when he was 74 years old. He left behind his interests in the Theatre Royal, Bristol, and theatres in Cardiff and Swansea.
Plays He Adapted
Macready adapted two plays for the stage:
- The Irishman in London; or, the Happy African (1793): This play was based on an older farce. It became very popular and was even performed in New York City in 1793.
- The Bank-note, or a Lesson for Ladies (1795): This play was an adaptation of Artful Husband by William Taverner.
Another play, The Village Lawyer (1795), is sometimes said to be by Macready, but this is probably incorrect.
His Family
William Macready married Christina Ann Birch, who was also an actress, in 1786. She passed away in 1803. They had eight children together. Their son, also named William Macready, became a very famous actor. Another of their sons, Edward Nevil Macready, was a Major in the army and fought in the Battle of Waterloo.
