The Sibyl, or The Elder Brutus is a tragedy by the English writer Richard Cumberland. Written but not performed or printed in his lifetime, it was included in the posthumous collections of his works published in 1813.[1] Inspired by the Cumaean Sibyl, it depicts the overthrow of the Roman monarchy. On 3 December 1818 it premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London.[2] [3] John Howard Payne substantially reworked the piece for production while Edmund Kean played the role of Brutus. It was performed and published under the title Brutus.
| The Sibyl | |
|---|---|
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| Written by | Richard Cumberland |
| Date premiered | 3 December 1818 (rewritten by John Howard Payne) |
| Place premiered | Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Historical tragedy |
| Setting | Ancient Rome |
References
Bibliography
- Burwick, Frederick. Time in Romantic Theatre. Springer Nature, 2022.
- Greene, John C. Theatre in Dublin, 1745-1820: A Calendar of Performances, Volume 6. Lexington Books, 2011.
- Nicoll, Allardyce. A History of English Drama 1660–1900: Volume III. Cambridge University Press, 2009.
- Williams, Stanley Thomas. Richard Cumberland: His Life and Dramatic Works. Yale University Press, 1917.