Grimaldi Family

In the summer of 1780, while performing at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Grimaldi introduced the audience to his three year-old son, Joseph. Back at Drury Lane a year later on Boxing Day, Joseph played the Little Clown in The Triumph of Mirth or Harlequin's Wedding. The show was such a success and the young Grimaldi so adored by audiences, that it was extended until March 1782. He became the youngest regular juvenile actor in the theatre, and was such a talent that his envious father faked his own death in order to gauge the depth of his son’s love.

When Grimaldi senior died of dropsy in 1788, his son became the family’s sole breadwinner. He was 9 years old. Joseph continued to perform in the Drury Lane Christmas pantomimes whilst being hired out to perform in the ‘low’ comedies of other theatres during the year. At 23, his disagreement with Drury Lane’s management led to dismissal. Joseph simply crossed the road and joined Covent Garden Theatre, while continuing to work at Sadler’s Wells as resident clown. Now married to the owner’s daughter, he had virtually free rein at both theatres. 

The pinnacle of Joseph Grimaldi’s pantomimes was Harlequin and Mother Goose; or, The Golden Egg, which opened at the Covent Garden Theatre on 29 December 1806. A huge success, its profits reached over £20,000 from 92 performances. Other West End and even regional theatres recognised the rewards of pantomimes and would, after this 1806 season, go on to produce their own around the Christmas period. Even Astley’s Royal Amphitheatre, known for its rarefied circus productions, created a Christmas show in the pantomime style, book-ended by some abridged Shakespeare and a short ballet.