The leading Restoration actor was Thomas Betterton whom diarist Samuel Pepys regarded as the best in the world: ‘he could command attention even from the
fops and flower girls’.
Betterton went on to manage the Duke’s Company from 1668. Other Restoration actors included Cave Underhill, Thomas Otway and Colley Cibber.
To discover more about these actors click on "discover more" button below the image.
The First Women on the Stage
The Restoration saw the emergence of the first professional actresses and playwrights. Breeches parts, where women disguised themselves as men (and thus revealed their
ankles and legs in men’s clothing) quickly proved very popular in Restoration drama. The first woman to appear on the professional stage in England is generally
considered to be Margaret Hughes who performed at the Vere Street Theatre in 1660 in a production of Othello. Davenant employed eight actresses to perform with his company
shortly afterwards.
Other notable actresses included Elizabeth Barry who was known as the queen of tragedy. She was trained for the stage by the notorious womaniser
the Earl of Rochester, who was also her lover. The most infamous actress of this period was Nell Gwyn, who was painted nude for Charles II and bore
him two children.
Early Theatre in Britain
The Globe
