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| Archive Reference / Library Class No. | D5459/1/34/5 |
| Former Reference | D5459/1/134 |
| Title | A Midsummer's Night's Dream : Mr Parsons in the Character of Bottom |
| Date | Feb 1787 |
| Description | Portrait of Parsons, facing right with his hands on his stomach. He has a donkey's head and is wearing a blue coat, a white scarf and a leather apron. Available on CD 157. |
| Level | Item |
| Repository | Derbyshire Record Office |
| Artist | Woodward, George Murgatroyd (?1765-1809) |
| Archive Creator | George Murgatroyd Woodward (1765-1809), artist and writer |
| Further Information | G. M. Woodward Delin : February 1787
"Bottom / Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle of hay _ Act IV Scene I"
William Parsons (1736-1795) was born in London and worked as a strolling player in northern England and Scotland. He made his debut at Drury Lane in the 'Beggar's Opera' in 1762.
Although there were no actual performances of 'A Midsummer's Night Dream', Parsons did play in George Colman's adaptation, 'A Fairy Tale', at the Haymarket on 18 Jul 1777 and 5 Sep 1778. |
| Physical Description | Coloured drawing. Size 251 x 201 mm. Portrait. |
| Copies | A digital copy can also be viewed on the public computers at the record office. |
| Related Material | See D5459/1/4/10 for a scene from the play. |
| Publication Note | B.D.A., London Stage. |
| Image | 
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