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List of early-modern British women playwrights

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Aphra Behn, Restoration playwright, by Peter Lely

This table lists women playwrights who were active in England and Wales, and the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, before the Victorian era, with a brief indication of productivity or other significant information. The entries may be reordered to browse by name or date. Authors of dramatic works are the focus of this list, though many of these writers worked in more than one genre.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Playwrights

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Playwrights
Name Dates Notes
Abington, Frances 1737–1815 actor who wrote two plays, only one produced[1]
Amherst, Elizabeth Frances 1716?–1779 poet and naturalist whose Dramatick pastoral was produced in 1762
Ariadne 1694-95 (fl.) pseudonym of unknown author of She Ventures and He Wins
Aubin, Penelope 1679? – 1731? primarily a novelist; one play produced
Baillie, Joanna 1762–1851 prolific playwright
Balfour, Mary E. 1789–1810 (fl.) one play produced, Belfast
Barrell, Maria (née Weylar) 1803 (death) born in West Indies; poet, playwright, and writer for periodicals
Barrymore, Mrs. W[illiam?] 1823 (fl.) one play produced[1]
Behn, Aphra 1640–1689 usually credited with being the first female professional playwright in English
Berry, Mary 1763–1852 one play produced, one in manuscript
Boaden, Caroline 1821–1839 (fl.) author of at least six plays;[2] daughter of James Boaden
Booth, Ursula Agnes 1740–1803 actor who wrote at least one farce[1][3]
Boothby, Frances 1669–1670 (fl.) author of the first original play by a woman to be produced in London
Bourchier, Rachel (Countess of Bath; née Fane) 1613–1680 wrote masques
Bowes, Mary (Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne) 1749–1800 published one play
Boyd, Elizabeth 1710?– 1745? one play; wrote primarily in other genres
Brand, Barbarina 1768–1854 published four plays, one produced
Brand, Hannah 1754–1821 published playwright
Brooke, Charlotte 1740–1793 one play published but not produced
Brooke, Frances 1723–1789 primarily a novelist; wrote comic opera
Browning, Elizabeth Barrett 1806–1861 primarily a poet; one closet drama and one translation
Burgess, Mrs. 1779–1780 (fl.) one comedy, produced in Canterbury[4]
Burke, Miss 1793 (fl.) one comic opera/burletta[5]
Burney, Frances 1752–1840 primarily a novelist; author of several plays, only one produced in her lifetime
Burney, Frances 1776–1828 niece of Frances Burney; wrote two tragedies which were published but not produced
Burrell, Sophia 1753–1802 author of two tragedies
Carstairs, Christian 1763—1786 (fl.) poet who wrote a short theatrical
Cary, Elizabeth (Viscountess Falkland; née Tanfield) 1585–1639 first woman known to have written and published an original play in English
Cavendish, Jane 1620?–1669 co-authored a pastoral masque with her sister, Elizabeth Egerton
Cavendish, Margaret (Duchess of Newcastle) 1623–1673 author of closet dramas
Celesia, Dorothea 1738 (baptised); d. 1790 translated Voltaire's Tancrède
Centlivre, Susannah 1667?–1723 successful playwright
Chambers, Marianne 1799–1812 (fl.) English playwright
Charke, Charlotte 1713–1760 playwright/actor/manager
Cibber, Susannah 1714–1766 actor who had at least one masque produced
Clive, Catherine 1711–1785 actor; wrote farces with some success
Collier, Jane 1714–1755 The Cry (1754), co-authored with Sarah Fielding
Cooper, Elizabeth (née Price) 1698?–1761? actor, playwright, and poet
Corbett sisters, Walterina Cunningham (d. 1837) and Grace Corbett (c. 1765–1843) 1765?– 1837 novelists, playwrights, and anthologists
Cornelys, Margaret 1723–1797 author of two comedies and a ballad opera; only one produced (Dublin 1781)[1]
Cowley, Hannah 1743–1809 playwright and poet
Craven, Elizabeth 1750–1828 writer of farces and pantomimes
Cullum, Mrs. 1775 (fl.) one drama, not produced[6]
Cuthbertson, Catherine 1793 (fl.) novelist who wrote one play
Davys, Mary 1674–1732 novelist; produced one play; had another published
De Humboldt, Charlotte 1821–1838 (fl.) poet and author of the tragedy Corinth (1821)[7]
Deverell, Mary 1731–1805 author of two plays, neither performed
Dubois, Dorothea 1728–1774 wrote musical entertainments
Edgeworth, Maria 1768–1849 widely read novelist who also wrote comic dramas; published but not performed
Edwards, Anna Maria 1783–1787 (fl.) one play, produced in Dublin[1]
Edwards, Christian 1776–1787 (fl.) one play, published but not produced[1]
Egerton, Elizabeth 1626–1663 co-authored a pastoral masque with her sister, Jane Cavendish
Egleton, Jane 1734 (death) actor who wrote a ballad opera
Fielding, Sarah 1710–1768 The Cry (1754), co-authored with Jane Collier
Finch, Anne (Countess of Winchilsea) 1661–1720 primarily a poet; also wrote verse dramas
Forsyth, Elizabeth 1784–1789 (fl.) author of The Siege of Quebec [1]
Francis, Ann 1738–1800 poetic dramatization of The Song of Solomon (1781)
Fraser, Susan 1809–1816 (fl.) author of one poetic tragedy, Comala (1809)[1]
Gardner, Sarah (née Cheney) 1763–1795 (fl.) comedic actor and playwright
Geisweiler, Maria 1799–1800 (fl.) author of dramas, unproduced[1]
Goldsmith, Mary 1800–1804 (fl.) author of two comic pieces[1][8]
Gore, Catherine 1799–1861 eleven plays produced
Green, Mrs. 1756 (fl.) author of one play[1]
Griffith, Elizabeth 1727?–1793 playwright
Gunning, Elizabeth 1769–1823 a tragicomedy, not produced
Harlow, Elizabeth 1789 (fl.) bookseller; author of one comedy[1]
Harrison, Elizabeth 1724–1756 (fl.) The Death of Socrates in Miscellanies on moral and religious subjects (1756)[1][9]
Harvey, Margaret 1768–1858 English poet, scholar, and playwright
Haywood, Eliza 1693–1756 long career writing in many genres
Helme, Elizabeth 1743–1814 educational writer who translated two children's plays
Hemans, Felicia 1793–1835 primarily a poet; some verse drama
Hill, Philippina (née Burton) 1768-87 (fl.) poet and author of one produced play[1][10]
Hofland, Barbara 1770–1844 prolific writer who published one volume of dramas for children
Holcroft, Frances 1780–1844 poet, novelist, translator of plays
Holford, Margaret (the elder) 1757–1834 one play produced
Holford, Margaret (the younger) 1778–1852 one play, neither published nor produced
Hook, Harriet Horncastle 1784 (fl.) author of one comic opera[11]
Hoper, Rachael 1742–1760 (fl.) three plays produced[12]
Hornby, Mary 1819–1820 (fl.) two plays, neither produced[1]
Hughes, Anne 1784–1797 (fl.) novelist and poet who wrote Moral dramas intended for private representation (1790)[13]
Hull, Elizabeth Edmead 1786–1832 (fl.) The Events of the Day (prod. Norwich, 1795)[1]
Inchbald, Elizabeth 1753–1821 widely published in various genres
Isdell, Sarah 1805–1825 (fl.) two plays produced but not printed[1]
Kemble, Maria Theresa 1774–1838 actor, singer, dancer, and comic playwright
Kennedy, Grace 1782–1825 writer on religious subjects who wrote one drama, not performed
Killigrew, Anne 1660–1685 "A Pastoral Dialogue" published in Poems (1686)
La Roche-Guilhem, Anne de 1644–1707 wrote Rare on tout (1677), a masque for Charles II
Latter, Mary 1725–1777 one tragedy produced
Lawrence, Rose D'Aguilar 1799–1836 (fl.) poet and author of one play, not performed[1][14]
Leadbeater, Mary 1758–1826 Irish Quaker author whose work included dramatic dialogues
Leapor, Mary 1722–1746 English poet who wrote one tragedy, not produced
Le Fanu, Alicia Sheridan 1753–1817 Irish author of one comedy
Lee, Harriet 1757–1851 playwright
Lee, Sophia 1750–1824 playwright
Lennox, Charlotte (née Ramsay) 1730?–1804 Scottish novelist, playwright, and poet
Lumley, Jane 1537–1578 first translator of Euripides into English
Macauley, Elizabeth 1785?–1837 actor and author
Manley, Delarivier 1670?–1724 playwright
Marishall, Jean (Jane Marshall) 1765–1788 (fl.) one play
McCarthy, Charlotte 1745-1768 (fl.) Irish novelist and religious writer who wrote one dramatic dialogue
Metcalfe, Catherine 1790 (death) one tragedy[1]
Minton, Ann 1785 (birth) A Wife to be Lett; or, The Miser Cured (1802)[1]
Mitford, Mary Russell 1787–1855 playwright
Montagu, Mary Wortley (Lady Mary) 1689–1762 prolific writer whose comedy, Simplicity, was not produced
More, Hannah 1745–1833 playwright; published in many genres
M'Taggart, Ann Hamilton 1753?–1834 published playwright, none produced[1]
Nooth, Charlotte 1807–1816 (fl.) poet who published one play
O'Brien, Mary 1785–1790 (fl.) Irish poet and playwright
Opie, Amelia 1769–1853 English abolitionist and writer, mainly of novels and poetry
Owenson, Olivia (Lady Clarke) 1785–1845 Irish poet and dramatist
Owenson, Sydney (Lady Morgan) 1781?–1859 Irish writer known mainly for novels
Parsons, Eliza 1739–1811 prolific Gothic novelist; one play produced
Penny, Anne (née Hughes) 1729–1784 Welsh poet and author of one dramatic entertainment
Philips, Katherine 1631–1664 poet; author of two plays (one unfinished)
Pilkington, Laetitia 1709–1750 Anglo-Irish poet; one play produced
Pinchard, Elizabeth (née Sibthorpe) 1791–1820 (fl.) novelist; wrote dramatic dialogues for young readers
Piozzi, Hester Thrale 1741–1821 author and patron; two unpublished plays
Pix, Mary 1666–1709 playwright
Plowden, Francis 1827 (death) author of one comic opera[15]
Plumptre, Annabella 1769–1838 collaborated with her sister, Anne Plumptre
Plumptre, Anne 1760–1818 wrote primarily in other genres; translated dramas
Polack, Elizabeth 1830–1838 (fl.) author of five plays, three extant
Polwheele, Elizabeth 1651?–1691? two plays extant
Pope, Jane 1744–1818 English actor; one comedy produced, 1767
Porter, Anna Maria 1778–1832 poet and novelist whose The Fair Fugitives was produced in 1803
Porter, Jane 1776–1850 two plays
Pye, Jael (née Mendez) 1737?–1782 published four works, each in a different genre
Richardson, Elizabeth 1779 (death) author of The double deception; or, lovers perplex'd[16]
Richardson, Sarah Watts 1824 (death) poet, novelist, playwright[17]
Robe, Jane 1723 (fl.) author of The Fatal Legacy (1723)
Roberts, Rose 1730–1788 translator, poet, and writer of sermons who wrote at least one drama
Robertson, Fanny 1765–1855 actor-manager, author of at least two plays
Robinson, Mary 1757–1800 wrote primarily in other genres; one play produced
Ross, Anna 1773 (birth) performer; wrote comic opera
Rowson, Susanna (née Haswell) 1762–1824 British-American novelist, poet, playwright
Ryves, Elizabeth 1750–1797 Irish poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist, and translator
Sanders, Charlotte Elizabeth 1787–1803 (fl.) wrote plays for young readers[1]
Satchell, Elizabeth (later Kemble) 1763–1841 actor; one pastoral produced
Scott, Jane 1779–1839 theatre manager, actor, and prolific playwright
Serres, Olivia (née Wilmot) 1772–1834 published Flights of Fancy: Consisting of Miscellaneous Poems. With the Castle of Avola, an Opera, in Three Acts. London: J. Ridgway, 1805.[18]
Sheridan, Elizabeth 1758–1837 wrote one play, since lost[1]
Sheridan, Frances 1724–1766 playwright
Short, Mrs. C. 1792 (fl.) Dramas for the Use of Young Ladies (1792)[19]
Sidney, Mary 1561–1621 translated one play
Smith, Charlotte 1749–1806 novelist and poet; one comedy attributed to her
Starke, Mariana 1761–1838 author of four plays, not all produced; mainly a travel writer
Stratford, Agnes 1794–1795 (fl.) one tragedy, published but not produced[20]
Sutton, Katherine of 1358–1376 (fl.) abbess who rewrote several mystery plays; considered England's first woman playwright
Tollet, Elizabeth 1694–1754 Susanna; or innocence preserved, in Poems on several occasions (1755; not produced)
Trimmer, Sarah 1741–1810 prolific educational writer; author of The little hermit; or, the rural adventure (1788; not produced)
Trotter, Catherine 1679–1749 playwright
Turner, Margaret 1790–1810 (fl.) pastoral[21]
Wallace, Eglantine (née Maxwell) 1803 (death) comedies and tragedy
West, Jane 1758–1852 wrote primarily in other genres
Wharton, Anne (née Lee) 1659–1685 poet and verse dramatist
Whitlock, Elizabeth (née Kemble) 1761–1836 known mainly for acting
Wilson, Ann 1778–1812 (fl.) Jephthah's daughter (1783; not produced)[22]
Wiseman, Jane 1682?–1717 (fl.) author of one produced play
Wroth, Mary (Lady Mary) 1587–1652 primarily a poet; one drama extant
Yearsley, Ann 1753?–1806 primarily a poet; produced and published one play
Yorke, Elizabeth (Countess of Hardwicke; née Lindsay) 1763–1858 playwright
Title page of Dramas for the Use of Young Ladies by C Short (1792)
Title page of Dramas for the Use of Young Ladies by Mrs C. Short (1792) (Etext, Google)

See also

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Notes and references

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Mann.
  2. ^ "Boaden, Caroline". The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 4472. Accessed 2023-08-22.
  3. ^ "Booth, Mrs." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2276. Accessed 2023-08-22.
  4. ^ "Burgess, Mrs." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2304. Accessed 2023-08-22.
  5. ^ "Burke, Mrs." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2250. Accessed 2023-08-22.
  6. ^ "Cullum, Mrs." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2296. Accessed 2023-08-22.
  7. ^ "de Humboldt, Charlotte." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 3974. Accessed 2023-08-23.
  8. ^ "Goldsmith, Mary." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2937. Accessed 2023-08-23.
  9. ^ Harrison, Elizabeth. Miscellanies on moral and religious subjects, in prose and verse. By Elizabeth Harrison. The Women's Print History Project, 2019, title ID 3333. Accessed 2023-08-23.
  10. ^ "Hill, Philippina Patience." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 3785. Accessed 2023-08-22.
  11. ^ Hook, Harriet Horncastle. The double disguise, a comic opera in two acts: as performed at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. The songs set to music by Mr. Hook. The Women's Print History Project, 2019, title ID 6760. Accessed 2023-08-20.
  12. ^ London Stage Database
  13. ^ "Hughes, Anne." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2553. Accessed 2023-08-20.
  14. ^ "Lawrence, Rose D'Aguilar." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 3430. Accessed 2023-08-22.
  15. ^ "Plowden, Francis." The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2271. Accessed 2023-08-25.
  16. ^ Eighteenth-Century Drama Ref. LA478
  17. ^ "Richardson, Sarah". The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2851. Accessed 2023-08-26.
  18. ^ "Serres, Olivia." Jackson Bibliography of Romantic Poetry. Accessed August 10, 2024.
  19. ^ OL17011834M
  20. ^ "Stratford [later Corneille], Agnes". The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2911. Accessed 2023-08-27.
  21. ^ "Turner, Margaret". The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 2786. Accessed 2023-08-27.
  22. ^ "Wilson, Ann". The Women's Print History Project, 2019, Person ID 1022. Accessed 2023-08-27.

References

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  • Blain, Virginia, et al., eds. The Feminist Companion to Literature in English. New Haven and London: Yale UP, 1990. (Internet Archive)
  • Buck, Claire, ed.The Bloomsbury Guide to Women's Literature. Prentice Hall, 1992. (Internet Archive)
  • Chadwyck-Healey Database of English Prose Drama (through 1750) and (1750–1939)
  • Mann, David (1996). Women Playwrights in England, Ireland, and Scotland, 1660-1823. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-33087-4.
  • Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford: OUP, 2004.
  • Robertson, Fiona, ed. Women's Writing, 1778–1838. Oxford: OUP, 2001. (Internet Archive)
  • Schlueter, Paul, and June Schlueter. An encyclopedia of British women writers. Rutgers University Press, 1998. (Internet Archive)
  • Todd, Janet, ed. British Women Writers: a critical reference guide. London: Routledge, 1989. (Internet Archive)
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