Mr E. Wigelworth was clearly a theatrical man, to judge by the language of his advertisement for his Theatre of Arts. One wonders if Spalding appreciated the spectacular. A similar amusement by George Peck had been touring in Tasmania a few years earlier and this was based upon Thiodon’s Theatre of Fine Arts.
“Never Exhibited in Spalding before!
By Permission, at the TOWN HALL, SPALDING.
Original Royal Mechanical and Pictureque THEATRE of ARTS, forming a Repository of Rational and Interesting Amusements.
E. WIGELSWORTH most respectfuly announces to the nobility, gentry, and the public in general of Spalding and its vicinity, that he has arrived with his splendid Theatre of Arts, which he will open on MONDAY next, MARCH 19th, and every Evening during the week. The Exhibition consists of beautiful representations of the most interesting parts of the World, in the varying aspects of light and shade, forming the most splendid and majestic Scenery that nature and art ever produced; the foreground and bridges will be enlivened with several thousand chaste figures, and by the power of mechanism display all the minor and more complicated muscular actions of animated nature. The whole to conclude with a faithful delineation of a Storm at Sea, with all its characteristic phenomena. – Doors to be opened at Half past Seven o’clock, and the Performance to commence at Eight. Front Seats 1s., Gallery 6d. – For particulars see handbills.”
The Stamford Mercury, 16th March, 1838.