Patent theatre

Other theatres were prohibited from performing such "serious" drama, but were permitted to show comedy, pantomime or melodrama.

Public entertainments, such as theatrical performances, were banned under the Puritan rule in the English Commonwealth.

After he was restored to the throne, Charles II issued letters patent to Thomas Killigrew and William Davenant, granting them the monopoly right to form two London theatre companies to perform "serious" drama.

The letters patent were reissued in 1662 with revisions allowing actresses to perform for the first time.

After some disagreements, Betterton obtained a licence from William III to form a new company at the old theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields in 1695, which moved to the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, in 1720 (now the Royal Opera House).

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1812. Drury Lane was established as one of the patent theatres in 1663 during the reign of Charles II .
For a period there was only one licensed theatre company operating in London, under the management of Thomas Betterton 's United Company .