[2] The same year at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane he played in James Miller's version of Voltaire's Mahomet the part of Zaphna, which he had studied under David Garrick.

[5] He appeared as Juan in Stephen Storace's first musical success at Drury Lane in the same year, in James Cobb's adaptation of Dittersdorf's The Doctor and the Apothecary.

Bannister appeared in it (opposite Miss De Camp, the future Mrs Charles Kemble), in the character of the Hair Dresser, and he could not 'have handled the comb, curling irons and powder puff more skilfully'.

[10] In November 1802 he was again with Kelly, Miss De Camp, Richard Suett, and Ralph Wewitzer in James Cobb's A House to be Sold.

[11] In the 1814 revival of George Farquhar's The Inconstant, 'The inimitable performance of Bisarre, by Mrs Jordan, and of Duretete, by Mr John Bannister, will long be remembered with delight.

'[12] The same year saw him as Scrub in the same author's The Beaux's Stratagem (originally 1707),[13] and as Colonel Feignwell (with Dowton as Obadiah Prim) in Mrs. Centlivre's comedy A Bold Stroke For A Wife (first produced 1718).

[14] In the 1815 production of The Apprentice (his debut role), 'The performance of Dick, by Mr. John Bannister, and his admirable recitation of the prologue' (written by Garrick) 'were fortunate instances of that gentleman's comic versatility.