John Ward, 1704–1773
Actor, Theatre Manager
John Ward was born in Ireland and became the manager of a touring troupe of players who toured the midlands and Wales in the 1700s.
The Ward family home was in Leominster and he played regularly at the Forbury Chapel and at the Kington Theatre.
John Ward founded the Warwickshire Company of Comedians — a theatre company which toured throughout the West Midlands and into Wales during the late 1700s. Although the precise date of the founding of this company is unknown, it was recorded as visiting Stratford-upon-Avon in 1744.
Ward was a Methodist and strict disciplinarian and under his leadership the company’s performances were of a much higher standard than was typical of strolling players. Ward gave the first recorded performance of a Shakespearian play in Stratford-upon-Avon. He is also notable as the author of the two earliest surviving prompt books of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which reveal how the play was performed in eighteenth century England.
The major turning point in the company’s existence took place in 1751 when Richard Yates’ company from London’s Theatre Royal, Drury Lane opened the purpose-built King Street Theatre in Birmingham to compete with the smaller venue in Moor Street. Ward’s reaction to this invasion was to advertise in the London newspapers for “capital performers” to join him in Birmingham. This led eventually to Ward employing Roger Kemble and the real flowering of the Kemble theatrical dynasty whose most notable member was his granddaughter Sarah Siddons.
Around this time the troupe also appeared regularly in the Leominster Theatre in Burgess St (replaced by the County Police Station in 1883, now the NFU office). However this venue proved to be too small and after 1754 they performed in the Forbury Chapel on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Ward and his wife Sarah (née Butcher) are buried in Leominster Priory Churchyard. The grave inscription reads:
Here waiting for our Saviour’s great assize
And, hoping through His merits hence to rise
In glorious mode, in this dark closet lies John Ward Gent. Who died Oct. 30 1773 Aged 69 years.
Also Sarah, his wife, who dies Jan. 30 1786 aged 75 years.
They whose names are here recorded were maternal grandfather and grandmother to the celebrated Mrs. Siddons and Mr. Kemble.
