Dorset Garden Theatre

The Dorset Garden Theatre stood on the north bank of the Thames in the City of London. Built in 1671 on land once occupied by Dorset House, it replaced an earlier playhouse used during the reign of Charles I. The site lay near Dorset Stairs, a short walk from the Fleet River’s outlet. Patrons often arrived by boat, avoiding the dangerous alleys of Alsatia. The theatre became London’s main playhouse after the Theatre Royal burned down in 1672. It was the fourth home of the Duke’s Company, led by Sir William Davenant and later Thomas Betterton. The company spent £9,000 on the building, leasing the land for 39 years. Dorset Garden specialised in elaborate spectacles, including operatic versions of Shakespeare’s plays. Productions such as *Macbeth* and *The Tempest* featured flying actors, moving scenery, and large casts. The theatre also hosted early operas and musical entertainments before its demolition in 1709. Inside, the auditorium had a central pit shaped like an amphitheatre, two tiers of boxes, and an upper gallery. The stage included a large forestage and a deep scenic stage with machinery for flying effects. The proscenium arch, decorated by Grinling Gibbons, framed lavish productions. Nearby lived writers like Aphra Behn and John Dryden. Though no images survive, contemporary accounts describe a richly decorated interior designed for spectacle.