Famous people spotted

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I'm always amused by mentions of Mr Kean's various troubles, and there are so many other interesting people mentioned on the playbills.

Someone shared http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100022589298.0x000002#?cv=1 and asked, 'Mr Smollett is listed as one of the actors. Any chance he's related to Tobias Smollett's family?' - what do you think?

Wendy B spotted this playbill with a performance for the benefit of Miss Ellen Tree (later Mrs Charles Kean):

Jessica spotted this benefit performance for Ira Aldridge, listed as the African Roscius, in a volume of playbills from miscellaneous theatres: Huddersfield - Ledbury 1783-1864 (http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100022589128.0x000002#?cv=215&c=0&m=0&s=0&xywh=-4%2C99%2C2371%2C1516 )

For more information on Ira Aldridge, http://theshakespeareblog.com/2012/10/black-history-month-telling-the-story-of-ira-aldridge-the-african-roscius/ is one of many posts about his role in theatre history on theshakespeareblog.com