PAST BRITISH CUSTOMS - CELEBRATING TWELFTH NIGHT CUSTOM AT LONDON'S DRURY LANE THEATRE

The |Baddeley Cake celebrations in 1996 with some of the cast of Miss Saigon

January 6 - Twelfth Night - down with the Christmas decorations and our poor old tree is out in the cold!  Epiphany What You Will is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. It's a good read and even better  performed in the theatre.

And this year's Twelfth Night which is usually an evening of fun, frolic and a piece of Baddeley Cake eaten at  London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane among the cast of the current show appearing there.  However, this theatre has been closed for some time for remodelling. 

Robert Baddely1733-1794

Some years ago, when researching and writing about the history of the Robert Baddeley Cake, I had an wonderful evening, meeting the whole cast of Miss Saigon and some of Britain's most famous actors alongside the Master and Directors of Drury Lane Theatrical Fund, and Stoll Moss Theatres.  What a great evening, particularly as it was the 200th anniversary of the First Baddeley Cake ceremony dating back to 1796.  When the theatre next opens and the covid pandemic is but a nasty memory, let's hope the Baddeley Twelfth Night observations will, once again, take place.

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane 

News of Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

In 2019, we embarked on an ambitious £60 million project to restore the historic Theatre Royal Drury Lane, at the heart of London’s West End, to its former 1812 glory. Throughout 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, we have adjusted, adapted and, most of all, persevered. When we reopen the doors in Spring 2021, we hope the return of Theatre Royal Drury Lane will lead the revival of our beloved and vital theatre industry.