HEREFORD’S AMAZING THEATRICAL HERITAGE
George Thomas tells the story of
PAGE 26 • FESTIVE NEWS • DECEMBER 2014
According to Shakespeare … ‘All the
world’s a stage and its people merely
players.’ If that be true then Hereford
ranks in the Premier League of
performers, for the city can boast a past
steeped in theatrical history.
In the 1700’s, the heyday of theatre and strolling
players, Hereford born actors were the stars of the
London stage. In today’s league they ranked alongside Lawrence Olivier and Judy Dench. Several stood
out, and have become part of theatre folklore.
Roger Kemble, born in Hereford in 1721 became
manager of a company of strolling players. He and
his wife had 12 children, creating a theatrical dynasty.
Three of the children became actors: John, Charles
and their sister Sarah, later to be known as Sarah Siddons and in the latter part of the 18th century this
trio of siblings, whose family home was in Church
Street, would top the bill in the leading productions
of the time. Sarah was feted as the Queen of Tragedy.
A mother of five, she remained a great beauty.
John would play most of the great Shakesperian roles
From the Kemble to the Courtyard –
– his Hamlet has probably never been bettered.
His home town would honour Kemble by naming born here, made his acting debut at the old County
a theatre after him, The Kemble in Broad Street at Theatre.
which many readers probably enjoyed shows.
Hereford, in those far off days was recognised as
Charles’ acting career appears to have been hindered being in the top five entertainment towns outside of
London, having five theatres or halls offering the full
spectrum of entertainment. In 1786 a Mr Watson
built the first proper theatre in Broad Street, close to
the cathedral, later to be knocked down to build the
Corn Exchange in 1859. Changing times in farming
led to the pillared exchange being converted in 1911
to the 800 s VB