The St James Theatre in Orchard Street first opened in 1750 with a performance of Shakespeare. It was the first purpose-built theatre in the city. When it was granted a Royal Patent in 1757, it became the first provincial Theatre Royal in the country.
Provincial theatres were often where famous dramatists, actresses and actors began their careers. This is true for William Reynold, whose tragedy Werter (an adaptation of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's popular novel The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774)) was rejected by three different London theatres before finally premiering in Bath in November of 1775. The play was warmly received by audiences, and despite a number of negative critical notices it continued to do well in various subsequent productions.
Hannah Cowley's plays are also examples of successful pieces debuted at the Theatre Royal.
Since 1779 the theatres royal in Bristol and Bath had been run jointly as a compact and self-sufficient ‘circuit’, already established as the most prolific producer of future London stars. William Dimond, actor and playwright, became manager in 1786 and proved uncommonly popular, not only with the directors, but also with the public and the company of players.
