Kathleen (Sarah) Desmond, famous actress of the northern provincial theatres, married her long-term lover William Macready, world famous tragedian, in 1821. In Bristol, Sarah played the title roles such as Queen Elizabeth in Dibdin’s adaptation of Walter Scott’s Kenilworth, Lady Macbeth and Desdemona. William had taken over as theatre manager at the Theatre Royal in 1819 from J B Watson, and remained so until his death in 1829. He is buried in Bristol Cathedral. After this came two financially incompetent managers in quick succession: Richard Brunton (1829-31) and James Bellamy (1832-34). In 1834, Bristol city’s councillors approached Sarah, by then living in a lodging house on Queen Square, to take over the management of the twinned Bath and Bristol Theatre Royals and turn their fortunes around. After some hesitation, she agreed and, on 3rd February, 1834, she opening her first season with Speed the Plough and The Haunted Inn. She faced difficulties: there was a cholera epidemic in the Rackhay (the slum behind the theatre) which forced a six-month closure, declining trade and prosperity in the city and a general dilapidation of the building. In fact, Sarah managed the Theatre during 20 years of its most turbulent history in a way which speaks of her strong willed determination and skills. She was, in fact, a remarkable businesswoman, inventive, resourceful and innovative – mixing high art with popular theatre and attracting some of the country’s top actors to Bristol. As is so often the case, Sarah has been overshadowed by her son in law and co-manager, James Henry Chute and virtually written out of history. Nonetheless, she is remembered on the external passage wall of the stage-left stage box, where a plaque explains that her ‘ghost is said to haunt this part of the building’.