ALFRED

See also:

• ALFRED BUNN (1796-186o)

BUNN (1796-186o)  , English theatrical manager, was appointed stage-manager of Drury Lane theatre, London, in 1823 . In 1826 he was managing the Theatre Royal, Birmingham, and in 1833 he undertook the joint management of Drury Lane and Covent Garden, London . In this undertaking he met with vigorous opposition . A bill for the abolition of the patent theatres was passed in the House of Commons, but on Bunn's petition was thrown out by the House of Lords . He had difficulties first with his company, then with the lord chamberlain, and had to face the keen rivalry of the other theatres . A long-standing quarrel with Macready resulted in the tragedian assaulting the manager . In 184o Bunn was declared a bankrupt, but he continued to manage Drury Lane till 1848 . Artistically his control of the two chief English theatres was highly successful . Nearly every leading English actor played under his management, and he made a courageous attempt to establish . English opera, producing the principal works of Balfe . He had some gift for writing, and most of the libretti of these operas were translated by himself . In The Stage Before and Behind the Curtain (3 vols., 184o) he gave a full account of his managerial experiences .

He died at

Boulogne on the 20th of December 186o .