David Garrick

David Garrick (1717–1779) was an English actor, playwright, and theatre manager who reshaped British stage acting and led London’s Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Samuel Johnson: Samuel Johnson was an English writer, critic, and lexicographer whose works include the Dictionary of the English Language. Johnson was Garrick’s former tutor and lifelong friend; their contrasting public reputations became a celebrated pairing.
Naturalistic acting: Naturalistic acting presents behavior as psychologically credible and recognizably human rather than formally stylized. Garrick’s expressive, behavior-based performances became a landmark in the move toward naturalistic acting.
Richard III (play): Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare about the rise and fall of King Richard III. Garrick’s 1741 performance as Richard III made him a London stage sensation.
Shakespeare in performance: Shakespeare in performance is the staging and interpretation of William Shakespeare’s plays across theatrical traditions. Garrick’s popular productions helped make Shakespeare central to British theatrical life.
Charles Macklin: Charles Macklin was an Irish actor and playwright known for naturalistic performances and a long London stage career. Macklin’s psychologically detailed acting helped shape the performance style Garrick developed.
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane: The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a London playhouse with a history dating to the seventeenth century. Garrick managed Drury Lane for much of his career and shaped its repertoire and company.
Hamlet: Hamlet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare about a Danish prince seeking to avenge his father’s murder. Garrick’s Hamlet became one of his best-known Shakespearean roles.
Shakespeare Jubilee: The Shakespeare Jubilee was a 1769 festival in Stratford-upon-Avon celebrating William Shakespeare. Garrick organized the event, which amplified Shakespeare’s standing as a national cultural figure.
Peg Woffington: Peg Woffington was an Irish actor celebrated for comic and breeches roles on the eighteenth-century stage. Woffington was Garrick’s frequent stage partner and romantic companion during his early success.
Theatrical lighting: Theatrical lighting is the use of light to make stage action visible and shape its atmosphere. Garrick introduced stage-lighting changes at Drury Lane, including concealed footlights.

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