''Mr Foote's Other Leg'' is a 2015 stage adaptation of ''Mr Foote's Other Leg: Comedy, tragedy and murder in Georgian London'', a 2012 biography of the 18th-century actor

Samuel Foote Samuel Foote (January 1720 – 21 October 1777) was a Cornish dramatist, actor and Actor-manager, theatre manager. He was known for his comedic acting and writing, and for turning the loss of a leg in a riding accident in 1766 to comedic oppor ...

. Both the biography and the play were written by Ian Kelly. The play's prelude is an attempt to steal Foote's amputated leg from the

Hunterian Collection The Hunterian Collection is one of the best-known collections of the University of Glasgow and is cared for by the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery and Glasgow University Library. It contains 650 manuscripts and some 10,000 printed books,

, but the drama mainly covers the period from Foote's tutelage under

Charles Macklin Charles Macklin (26 September 1699 – 11 July 1797), (Gaelic: Cathal MacLochlainn, English: Charles McLaughlin), was an Irish actor and dramatist who performed extensively at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Macklin revolutionised theatre in ...

in the 1740s until his involvement in the controversy surrounding

Elizabeth Chudleigh Elizabeth Pierrepont (née Chudleigh), Duchess of Kingston (8 March 172126 August 1788), sometimes called Countess of Bristol, was an English courtier and courtesan, known by her contemporaries for her adventurous life style. She was the daught ...

in 1774–76. The play premiered in London at the

Hampstead Theatre Hampstead Theatre is a theatre in South Hampstead, in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing, supporting and developing the work of new writers. History The original ''Hampstead Theatre Clu ...

, running from 14 September to 17 October 2015, directed by

Richard Eyre Sir Richard Charles Hastings Eyre (born 28 March 1943) is an English film, theatre, television and opera director. Eyre has received numerous accolades including three Laurence Olivier Awards as well as nominations for six BAFTA Awards and two ...

and designed by

Tim Hatley Tim Hatley is a British set and costume designer for theatre and film. He has won the Tony Award for Best Set Design and Best Costume Design, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design, a ...

, with Kelly himself as

George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and ...

, Foote played by

Simon Russell Beale Sir Simon Russell Beale (born 12 January 1961) is an English actor. He has been described by ''The Independent'' as "the greatest stage actor of his generation". He has received various accolades, including two BAFTA Awards, three Olivier Awar ...

David Garrick David Garrick (19 February 1716 – 20 January 1779) was an English actor, playwright, Actor-manager, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of European theatrical practice throughout the 18th century, and was a pupil a ...

Joseph Millson Joseph Millson (born 27 April 1974) is an English actor, writer, director and singer. He trained at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama in Sidcup, London. He gained a master's degree in screenwriting from Falmouth University in 2023. ...

Jock Hunter John Hunter (1875 – 1950) was a Scottish footballer who played in the Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional association football, football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Footba ...

Forbes Masson Forbes (Robertson) Masson (born 17 August 1963 in Falkirk) is a Scottish actor and writer. He is an Associate Artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He is best known for his roles in classical theatre, musicals, comedies, and appearances i ...

Peg Woffington Margaret Woffington (18 October 1720 – 28 March 1760), was an Irish actress and socialite of the Georgian era. Early life Woffington was born of humble origins in Dublin, Ireland yet excelled in playing women from the upper classes. Her f ...

Dervla Kirwan Dervla Kirwan (born 24 October 1971) is an Irish actress. She has received a number of accolades, including two IFTA Awards for her performances in the film '' Ondine'' (2009) and the RTÉ thriller series '' Smother'' (2021–2023) respective ...

, Charles Macklin and

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin (April 17, 1790) was an American polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and Political philosophy, political philosopher.#britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the m ...

Colin Stinton Colin Stinton (born March 10, 1947) is a Canadian-American actor. He is widely known for his collaborations with playwright and filmmaker David Mamet, and has worked extensively in the United Kingdom since 1985. He is a Joseph Jefferson Award win ...

and Frank Barber by

Micah Balfour Micah Balfour (born 18 July 1978) is an English actor. He is known for his roles as PC Benjamin Gayle in the ITV police drama ''The Bill'', Jermaine Bailey in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'', Junior Knight in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders' ...

. The production transferred to the West End to the

Haymarket Theatre The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre in Haymarket, London, Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in ...

(a theatre previously run by Foote), with performances from 28 October 2015 to 23 January 2016.

References

2015 plays British plays West End plays Plays set in the 18th century Plays set in London Plays based on real people Cultural depictions of Benjamin Franklin Cultural depictions of George III Cultural depictions of David Garrick {{2010s-play-stub