2 - The new managers take control

Summary

Any change of management in the King's Theatre was a matter of considerable interest to the aristocratic opera-going classes, and when early in 1773 news began to circulate that Hobart had finally given up, rumours about the succession were rife. On 12 January, George Bussy Villiers reported that the opera house was now to be ‘undertaken by several Gentlemen’. Changes were being made, and ‘some new Boxes’ were ‘already added to the theatre’. The leading figure in the financial take-over was James Brooke, who purchased from Hobart a half share of the company and then a further one-third share, giving him overall control. The remaining one-sixth share was retained by Peter Crawford, who continued to work as treasurer. Brooke was acting on behalf of his brother, the Reverend John Brooke and his wife Frances Brooke, and Richard and Mary Ann Yates. John Brooke seems to have had no active involvement in the King's Theatre at all. When the new managers took out a modest mortgage with the banker Henry Hoare, he was named as one of the three parties to the agreement who were: (1) James Brooke; (2) Richard and Mary Ann Yates; (3) John and Frances Brooke. The mortgage, however, was for the ‘joint and equal benefit’ of the other four. James Brooke, acting on behalf of his brother's wife, is often described as one of the proprietors.