Historian and CovSoc member, Peter James, tells us about the life of another actress with Coventry and Warwickshire associations. Peter writes…..
Early Life
Sarah Kemble was born on 5th July 1755 at the shoulder of Mutton public house in Brecon. Her parents were Roger Kemble and Sarah Kemble nee Ward, both were members of John Ward’s band of strolling players. Her education was at various schools dependant on where her parents and the troupe were playing.
She appeared on the stage at an early age and acted as Ariel in the Tempest at St. Mary’s Hall in Coventry in 1766. William Siddons an actor from Walsall joined the company but was dismissed after revealing his wish to marry Sarah. While the company were performing in Warwick her father sent her to work nearby at Guy’s Cliffe hoping she would forget about William. Sarah spent three years as a lady’s maid and companion to Lady Mary Bertie Greathead until 1773. Sarah’s family finally relented and gave their blessing for her to marry on 26th November 1773 at Holy Trinity Church in Coventry.
New Company
She and her husband performed together in a new company appearing in towns including Bath and Cheltenham. Her acting talent came to the attention of David Garrick a theatrical producer who offered her an engagement at Drury Lane in 1775. She wasn’t successful and so returned to touring with her husband and company. An outstanding season in the winter of 1776 in Manchester led to six years travelling and acting in this country and abroad.
Return to Drury Lane
In 1782 Richard Sheridan who had succeeded David Garrick at the Theatre Royal invited Sarah to return to Drury Lane. Reluctantly she returned and appeared as Isabella in Thomas Southerne’s Fatal Marriage. This time her exceptional acting ability was recognised.
The following year she was appointed to read to and teach elocution to the royal princesses, the daughters of George III.
On 31st March 1785 she played opposite her brother John Philip Kemble in Macbeth helping to establish his reputation as an actor.
The role that made her famous was Lady Macbeth – a fiercely ambitious and manipulative woman. However her favourite part was Queen Catherine in Shakespeare’s Henry VIII.
William Hazlitt a famous English writer and essayist wrote about her portrayal of Lady Macbeth: “she was regarded less with admiration than with wonder as if a being of superior order had dropped from another sphere to awe the world with the majesty of her appearance. Power was seated on her brow, passion emanated from her breast as if from a shrine…..”
Covent Garden
After 20 years in 1802 Sarah and her brother John Philip Kemble left Drury Lane for Covent Garden, where she remained until her retirement in 1812. By then she was the most successful actress of her day at a time when the profession was becoming more acceptable and respected. She did much to raise the status of an actress.
Later Life
Sarah and William had seven children, but their relationship grew increasingly strained as her career grew and she became more famous. After many years living apart they formally separated in 1804. William had been living in Bath for a number of years and died there in March 1808.
Following her final performance in 1812 Sarah retired to Westbourne Farm in Paddington where she entertained friends, wrote and took up sculpture. In 1817 she moved to 27 Upper Baker Street in London, then a fashionable Georgian street populated largely by the upper middle and upper classes. She died there on 8th June 1831 aged 76 years leaving a substantial estate.
Funeral
Sarah was buried in the churchyard at St. Mary’s in Paddington where an estimated 5,000 people attended her funeral. A monument to her was unveiled in the chapel of St. Andrews in Westminster Abbey in 1849: a life-size marble statue of her holding a scroll sculpted by Thomas Campbell. A further statue of her sculpted by Leon-Joseph Chavalliaud was unveiled by Henry Irving in 1897 and stands on Paddington Green near to where she lived and was buried.
Sarah Siddons has been remembered as both “Tragedy personified” and the “Queen of Drury Lane”