In the company of Joseph Austin and Charles Edward Whitlock in Chester he held a recognised position, and he toured the country.

On 2 December 1790, as Sir Francis Gripe in the Busy Body (by Susanna Centlivre) and Jemmy Jumps in the Farmer (by John O'Keeffe), the latter being a part created by Edwin two or three years earlier, he made his first appearance in London, and had a warm reception.

[2] At Covent Garden, with occasional summer appearances at the Haymarket Theatre, and excursions into the provinces, Munden remained until 1811, rising gradually to the position of the most celebrated comedian of his day.

[3] On 4 February 1791 he was the original Sir Samuel Sheepy in Thomas Holcroft's School for Arrogance, an adaptation of Le glorieux of Philippe Néricault Destouches.

His Old Dornton in Holcroft's Road to Ruin, 18 February 1792, was an immediate success, and remained a favourite to the end of his career [5] At the Haymarket, 15 July 1797, he was the first Zekiel Homespun in George Colman the younger's The Heir at Law.

At Covent Garden he was, 12 January 1799, Oakworth in Joseph George Holman's The Votary of Wealth; 8 February 1800 Sir Abel Handy in Morton's Speed the Plough, and 1 May 1800 Dominique in James Cobb's Paul and Virginia.

[2] On 4 October 1813, as Sir Abel Handy in Speed the Plough, Munden made his first appearance at Drury Lane where, 11 March 1815, he created one of his great roles, Dozey, an old sailor, in Thomas John Dibdin's Past Ten o'Clock and a Rainy Night.

At Drury Lane he played fewer original parts of importance, the last being General Van in Edward Knight's Veteran, or the Farmer's Sons, 23 February 1822.

He made bad investments, but refused invitations to reappear, and after the death of a favourite daughter spent most of his time in bed.