A playbill recording a performance of Wild oats by John O’Keeffe (1747-1833) and Cross purposes by William O’Brien (d. 1815), on 19 July 1803 at Dalby Theatre, the private playhouse of Edward Hartopp (1758-1808) at his seat Little Dalby Hall in Leicestershire. Edward Hartopp’s private theatricals seem to have been staged sporadically from 1777, becoming larger and more elaborate at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Edward Hartopp, his son, Mr. Bilsborrow, and two of the Misses Hamilton are listed as performers.

• Title: Dalby Theatre. Tuesday July 19th, 1803. Wild oats … : after which Cross purposes …
  
• Production: [Melton Mowbray] : Clementson, printer, Melton, [1803]

Catalog Record & Digital Collection

File 767 P69b D213 803

Acquired June 2016