William West and the Toy Theatre

Printmaker William West pioneered the creation of the Regency toy theatre, helping to preserve the theatrical legacy of Britain in the early nineteenth century.

West's work was the subject of an exhibition at Sir John Soane's Museum in 2004 and later an accompanying book. His endeavor began with a print showing characters from the pantomime Mother Goose which were derived from the contemporary theatre.

Initially, West worked together with an engraver's apprentice named John Green, who later set up his own toy theatre business. Their first prints were just sheets of characters that children could color, cut out, and mount on stiffened backings to enact on a miniature stage.

Later, West printed stage fronts that could be attached to miniature prosceniums, and eventually scenery that could be used as backdrops or wings. Many toy theatre makers also printed abridged texts of popular plays to be used in at-home amateur performances.

Black-and-white prints were traditionally sold for a penny, with pre-colored prints offered for two pence. West employed some serious artists, including George Cruikshank, who seems to have designed characters from the pantomime Harlequin Whittington. Cruikshank's brother Robert also created numerous toy theatre prints.

The artist Charles Tomkins began making theatrical prints for West and later became a scene painter for real theatres, first at the Royal Coburg and later at the Surrey and the Adelphi. West himself had numerous connections with the theatre, and by his own account even talked his way into getting a sketch of the new proscenium at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane before the rebuilt theatre had been opened to the public.

Popular plays West offered in toy theatre form included Charles Robert Maturin's Bertram, Richard Brinsley Peake's The Bottle Imp, and Isaac Pocock's The Miller and His Men, which according to West sold better than any other play he offered in a toy version.