Astley's

London theatres in the 19th century competed to offer evermore exotic and extravagant entertainments. Technical developments in the printing industry brought new typefaces which venues seized upon to create bold and eye-catching playbills. The promised attractions were described in great detail and often illustrated with wood-block engravings.

Astley's Royal Amphitheatre in Westminster Bridge Road was renowned for its spectacular reconstructions of great battles involving hundreds of soldier actors and scores of trained horses. Philip Astley (1742-1814) opened his first theatre on the site in 1770. His shows contained a mix of trick horse-riding displays, clowns, musicians and acrobats, and he is credited with creating the modern circus. Jane Austen referred to Astley's in her 1815 novel 'Emma'. The final theatre building on the site was demolished in 1893.

This playbill advertises the recreation of Napoleon's epic invasion of Russia in 1812, and a performance by the famous American animal trainer Isaac Van Amburgh (1808-1865). Amburgh, known as 'The Brute Trainer of Pompeii', made his first visit to Britain in 1838 and is reputed be the first man to put his head in a lion's mouth.