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Killigrew, Thomas
Killigrew, Thomas (1612–83), English dramatist and theatre manager. Before the closing of the theatres in 1642 he had already written several tragi-comedies, including The Prisoners (1635), Claracilla, The Princess; or, Love at First Sight (both 1636), and The Parson's Wedding (1641), based on a play by Calderón. This last, when revived in 1664 with a cast consisting of women only, made even Pepys blush. It is not, however, as a dramatist that Killigrew is important in the history of the English theatre, but as the founder of the present Drury Lane, which he opened as the Theatre Royal in 1662 under a Charter granted by Charles II. With Sir William Davenant, holder of a similar Charter for the Duke's House, later transferred to Covent Garden, Killigrew thus held the monopoly of serious acting in Restoration London, his company including Mohun, Hart, and, for a short while, Nell Gwynn. He also established a training school for young actors at the Barbican, and in 1673 was appointed Master of the Revels. He was, according to Pepys, a ‘merry droll’ and a great favourite at Court, but he was not as good a business manager as his rival Davenant and was often in financial difficulties. His brother Sir William (1606–95) and his son Thomas (1657–1719) both wrote plays, while another son, Charles (1665–1725), took over the management of the Theatre Royal in 1671, assisted by his half-brother Henry.
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PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Killigrew, Thomas." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Killigrew, Thomas." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-KilligrewThomas.html PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Killigrew, Thomas." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-KilligrewThomas.html |
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Killigrew, Thomas, the younger
Killigrew, Thomas, the younger (1657–1719), son of T. Killigrew the elder, and gentleman of the bedchamber to George II when prince of Wales. He was the author of Chit Chat, a comedy acted in 1719.
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Cite this article
MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Killigrew, Thomas, the younger." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Killigrew, Thomas, the younger." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-KilligrewThomastheyounger.html MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Killigrew, Thomas, the younger." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-KilligrewThomastheyounger.html |
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