The first theatre in Calcutta, The Playhouse, was a modest local at the Lal Bazar, founded in 1753 and turned into an action house in 1756.
It was situated near the Northern section of Clive Street and to the north of Writers Buildings, and built funded by the subscriptions sharers of one hundred rupees each.
Bernard Massinck (or Massing) was recommended to the post of manager of the theatre by David Garrick.
The actors consisted of exclusively male amateurs, but they were reportedly given good training and was very well regarded in their ability, particularly a Captain Call from the garrison, who was dubbed the 'Garrick of the East' by the Bengal Gazette.
The building and the adjoining site was acquired by Gopi Mohan Tagore, who turned it into the New China Bazar.