ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors view about nineteenth-century London theatre audiences are often dominated by essentialist descriptions via which subjective impressions have been transmuted into received orthodoxy. Originating as the Royal Circus in 1782, the Surrey Theatre was situated south of Thames at the intersection of the roads to Westminster and Black-friars Bridges in Blackfriars Road, an important thoroughfare linking the city of London with Southwark and sustaining their joint commercial interests. There are a number of views of Surrey audiences, quite possibly erroneous, that have also gained currency, through theatre’s association with such nautical dramas as Black Ey’ d Susan. Far from bringing visitors to Victoria, trains might merely bring them closer to the Lyceum, Drury Lane, and the eastern end of the Strand. Since the Surrey relied not only on local audiences but also on attracting audiences from further afield, the communications system must have been adequate to draw audiences from other areas of south and north London.
