Performances in the 18th century

It is not quite clear as to where exactly these early performances were given. From the middle of the 18th century onwards travelling companies visited the town at fairly regular intervals, in the course of their tours of the principal towns of Ireland. The practice then, as now, was to tour the provinces in Summer. In addition individual actors of repute paid special visits. It is established that in 1765 the Irish comedian, Thomas Ryder, brought his company to the town. Included among the players was John O' Keefe, poet and author of many successful plays. In places where suitable halls or rooms were not available it was usual to hold the performances in whatever private accommodation might be made available by resident well-wishers of the art; though as often as not, barns, sheds, stables and derelict buildings were the playhouses of the day.

The audience for the greater part consisted of the hard living aristocratic gentry, the members of the legal profession and the army. Much ceremony attended each performance and criticism was severe. There was no short-cut to fame in those days. The round of the provinces had to be made, and more often than not under the most gruelling conditions. Some players served an apprenticeship of as much as 20 years before attaining distinction. An afternoon's performance would consist of at least two or three full-length pieces, e.g. an opera, a tragedy and a farce. So one player on tour had to play many parts. It was usual to have a fortnight run of plays during the periods of the assizes in Galway with a change of programme every second or third night. Everything from Shakespeare to popular comedy was played. Hamlet and the Merchant of Venice were highly popular with our 18th century audiences. And a player who had an established reputation in a particular part was always held in the highest esteem. In between visits which he made with his company to Garrick in Drury Lane, Mr. Ryder and company performed in Galway on several occasions between 1765 and 1771. His repertoire included Trueborn Scotsman, The Romp, 'Tis Well it is no Worse (comedy), Love a la Mode.

An outstanding actor of this period, both in England and Ireland, was the eccentric Henry Mossop who was born in Tuam in 1729. This unusual character rose to the top of his profession in an exceptionally short time, and like all celebrities, was not unmindful of his artistic capabilities. But he underestimated the perseverance of managers like Garrick, who turned him down because of his unreliability in fulfilling engagements. He protested strongly against this attitude to one of the profession by fellow-members and in order to further substantiate his point of view, he went on hunger strike and died at his lodgings at Chelsea. Hardiman, the Galway historian, records his having performed in the town. Following the visit to the town of the former Smock Alley actor, LEstrange in September 1774, the following Prologue is reported as having been spoken by him on the eve of his departure to take up an engagement in Covent Garden.

"To be or not to be? - ay, there's the pause The grand decision of my tender cause Allured by interests and by promises bound, Your grateful Servant visits British ground; A lasting surety hurries him away, While heartfelt gratitude would have him stay, Oft thro' his breast in quick successive roll, Those leading passions that afflict his soul, Each in its turn demands my candid ear, And there alternate pleadings, I must hear, First your benevolence with silver tongue Sweet as the Muses's Lyre, when newly strung, Proclaims the vast, vast debt I owe to all, And charms my ears from every other call, Pleased with those dulcet accents I remain, Wrapped in Lethargic state till roused by gain. Stentorian lungs assist her loud dispute, And point out fortune, certainly repute, She marks the future settlement and ease Which never fails the lab'ring mind to please At length the tender struggle's at an end And reason tells me fortune is my friend. It my weak efforts then in any parts Have happily reached the feelings of your heart If the tear followed when I was distressed, My ends obtained and all my fears at rest For all your favours, take what I've to give. While in my memory they shall ever live A sigh of tribute from a grateful heart Compelled to go; unwilling to Depart. May Galway ever, as for Beauty fam'd The seat of Arts and Elegance, be named While all like me who visit this kind land Proclaim the bounty of your fost'ring hand, Taste and true virtue in one's soul you blend, The actor's patron and the stranger's friend."A valuable reminder of those early theatrical ventures in the town of Galway is a play-bill which was in the possession of the late Mr. Philip O' Gorman, Galway, and an actual facsimile of which is reproduced overleaf.