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Box office020 8940 3633

Saturday Seminar: The Rivals

17 January 2026

Running time 

1 hour

Rated 

for all ages

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Sat17thJan11:00am

The Sheridan You Don't Know
with guest speaker David Taylor

Most of us immediately associate the name Richard Brinsley Sheridan with the comedy of manners tradition, and with good reason. The Rivals and The School for Scandal were hugely popular in his day, earning him nickname ‘the Modern Congreve’, and remain loved by audiences today. But there are other, less well-known sides to Sheridan.
 
In this talk, David will introduce you to this less familiar Sheridan: to the manager of Drury Lane Theatre; to the front-bench opposition MP and celebrated political orator; to the advocate of parliamentary reform and Irish independence; and to the friend of Lord Byron. 
David Francis Taylor is a professor of English at the University of Oxford, where he is also a fellow of St. Hugh’s College.
 
He is the author of Theatres of Opposition: Empire, Revolution, and Richard Brinsley Sheridan and The Politics of Parody: A Literary History of Caricature, and is also co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of the Georgian Theatre.
 
He is a founding member of the R/18 Collective, an international group of scholars who collaborate with professional theatre practitioners to better understand and revive the Restoration and 18th-century repertoire.

Our Saturday Seminars offer audiences the chance to go beyond the stage. Taking place on selected Saturdays during the season, these engaging talks invite leading academics, authors, and cultural commentators to explore the world behind our productions.

From unpicking historical detail to examining social and political themes, each seminar is designed to deepen your understanding of the play and enrich your theatre experience.

Previous speakers have included renowned broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, Martin Fitzpatrick, Head of Music at English National Opera, and Dr Will Tosh of Shakespeare’s Globe.

Whether you’re a curious newcomer or a seasoned theatregoer, Saturday Seminars promise fresh perspectives, lively discussion, and new ways to connect with the stories we tell.

All tickets £15.