James Robinson Planché was a British dramatist, antiquary and officer of arms. Over a period of approximately 60 years he wrote, adapted, or collaborated on 176 plays in a wide range of genres including extravaganza, farce, comedy, burletta, melodrama and opera. Planché was responsible for introducing historically accurate costume into nineteenth century British theatre, and subsequently became an acknowledged expert on historical costume, publishing a number of works on the topic.
1835 portrait
A letter from William Makepeace Thackeray to Planché, asking for tickets to go behind the scenes of one of his plays
A playbill for the 1823 production of King John in which Planché introduced historically accurate costumes
Watteau's painting Gilles, on which Planché based the costume of Pierrot in Love and Fortune
The Olympic Theatre, sometimes known as the Royal Olympic Theatre, was a 19th-century London theatre, opened in 1806 and located at the junction of Drury Lane, Wych Street and Newcastle Street. The theatre specialised in comedies throughout much of its existence. Along with three other Victorian theatres, the Olympic was eventually demolished in 1904 to make way for the development of the Aldwych. Newcastle and Wych streets also vanished.
1831 engraving of the Royal Olympic Theatre
1820 architect's plans of the Olympic Theatre
Vestris as Pandora in Olympic Revels, 1831
A photo of Tom Taylor by Lewis Carroll