''Sir Walter Raleigh'' is a 1719

tragedy A tragedy is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a tragic hero, main character or cast of characters. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy is to invoke an accompanying catharsi ...

by the British writer

George Sewell George Sewell (31 August 19242 April 2007) was an English actor, best known for his television roles, but also active on stage and in films. Early life and early career The son of a Hoxton printer and a florist, Sewell left school at the age o ...

.Burling p.74 It is based on the downfall of

Walter Raleigh Sir Walter Raleigh (; – 29 October 1618) was an English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer. One of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era, he played a leading part in English colonisation of North America, suppressed rebell ...

a successful courtier and sailor in the reign of

Elizabeth Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to: People * Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name) * Empress Elisabeth (disambiguation), lists various empresses named ''Elisabeth'' or ''Elizabeth'' * Princess Elizabeth ...

who was executed in the reign of her successor

James I James I may refer to: People *James I of Aragon (1208–1276) * James I of Sicily or James II of Aragon (1267–1327) * James I, Count of La Marche (1319–1362), Count of Ponthieu * James I, Count of Urgell (1321–1347) *James I of Cyprus (1334� ...

. It was originally staged at the

Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre Lisle's Tennis Court was a building off Portugal Street in Lincoln's Inn Fields in London. Originally built as a real tennis court, it was used as a playhouse during two periods, 1661–1674 and 1695–1705. During the early period, ...

, one of the two

patent theatre The patent theatres were the theatres that were licensed to perform "spoken drama" after the Restoration of Charles II as King of England, Scotland and Ireland in 1660. Other theatres were prohibited from performing such "serious" drama, but ...

s operating in London. The original cast featured

James Quin James Quin (24 February 1693 – 21 January 1766) was an English actor of Irish descent. Life Quin was born in King Street, Covent Garden, London, an illegitimate son of James Quin, an Irish-born barrister, and his partner (whom he apparently ...

as Walter Raleigh,

Lacy Ryan Lacy Ryan (c. 1694–1760), English actor, appeared at the Haymarket Theatre about 1709. Life By 1718 he had joined the company at Lincoln's Inn Fields, where he shared the lead with his friend James Quin. He took leading roles in ''Richar ...

as Howard, John Leigh as Young Raleigh, John Corey as Salisbury, Christopher Bullock as Gundamor, Thomas Smith as Sir Julius Caesar, John Egleton as Carew,

John Ogden John Ogden may refer to: * John Ogden (colonist) (1609-1682), an American colonial leader * John Ogden (actor) (died 1732), a British stage actor * John B. Ogden (1812–?), 19th century Arkansas judge * John Ogden (academic), co-founder of Fisk Un ...

as Wade,

Anna Maria Seymour Anna Maria Seymour or Mrs Seymour (c. 1692 – 10 July 1723) was a British actress. Life Seymour is first heard of in 1717 when she appeared at Drury Lane in ''The Scowrers''. She took leading roles in Richard III and Hamlet with Lacy Ryan as we ...

as Lady Raleigh and Jane Rogers as Olympia.

References

Bibliography

* Burling, William J. ''A Checklist of New Plays and Entertainments on the London Stage, 1700-1737''. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, 1992. 1719 plays British plays West End plays Tragedy plays Cultural depictions of Walter Raleigh Plays based on real people Plays set in the 16th century Plays set in the 17th century Plays set in London {{1710s-play-stub