David Garrick, the most celebrated actor of his time.
This week, I used my ‘Hidden Histories’ slot on Newstalk to look at David Garrick (1717-1779), arguably the first modern actor and a man who attracted huge crowds when he performed at Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre in the role of Hamlet. When the poet Alexander Pope saw him act for the first time he was so moved that he commented, “that young man never had his equal as an actor, and he will never have a rival”
More importantly to this piece though, Garrick was one of the main forces in reforming 18th century theatre. Reforming acting was one thing, but reforming audiences was another entirely! With varying degrees of success, men like Garrick and Thomas Sheridan (manager of Dublin’s Smock Alley) sought to change the way people engaged with theatre, ensuring that most of the action happened on the stage and not off it.
Anyway, here it is:
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
Don’t forget Donegal Man Charles “Macklin” [Cathal MacLochlainn] who taught Garrick a lot of what he knew His performance of Shylock was the first clear example of “Method Acting” many years before the advent of Konstantin Stanislavski.
Excellent article. Keep up the good work.
Look up the Garrick Club Website. In the collections section there are many paintings of David Garrick and other 18th cent actors. Dr Moira Goff , the librarian us very helpful. By chance , I am a member . The Coffee room is a lovely place to have lunch or dinner surrounded by the historical paintings.
always thought garrick was an Englishman. Was he? or was he an Irishman?
Indeed he was Ben (an Englishman that is)! This piece is more about his time in the Smock Alley and his influence on Irish theatre.