Dunstable Yesteryear - Town's moments of fame

Dunstable was famous in Georgian times for its connections with the incomparable actor Sylvester Daggerwood. But, in fact, he did not exist – it was an ongoing nationwide joke about a mythical Dunstable personality.

The source of the fun was a playlet by George Colman entitled Sylvester Daggerwood, or New Way To Pay Old Debts, which poked fun at “ham” actors. It provided an opportunity for performers to produce parodies of their fellow thespians which were recognised and appreciated by the audiences of the time.

There’s a painting of two real actors, Mr Bannister and Mr Suett (reproduced here), appearing in the play at the Haymarket, London, in 1796. The comedy was revived numerous times and prompted other jokes such as a playbill, published in 1797, advertising a performance by Mr Daggerwood at The Theatre, Dunstable.

The blurb promised an assemblage of “all the beauties of desperation, execration, detestation, perturbation, humiliation and ostentation” and added that Mrs Daggerwood would attempt a recital of Collins Ode on the Passions, accompanied “on the bladder and string” by Mr Sylvester Daggerwood.

There was also to be a ballet about Don Juan which would conclude with a pleasing view of the Infernal Regions, after which there would be a farewell address to the Town of Dunstable by Mr Sylvester Daggerwood, in the Character of the Devil. Tickets were to be bought at the Mouse and Tinder-box, near the theatre.

Another advertisement promised that “at the end of the First Act, the young, beautiful, amiable, and interesting Invisible Girl will exhibit her marvelous parts, and give a specimen of her uncommon powers, in singing, sneezing, snoring, and other natural accomplishments….”

It was all, of course, a joke, but it made the name of Dunstable famous.

Yesteryear is compiled by John Buckledee, chairman of Dunstable and District Local History Society.