Speaker: Dr Jean Baker
Sarah Baker was an illiterate fairground performer who became one of the most successful self-made women of the 18th century.
Sarah opened her Rochester Theatre in 1791.
She was a very pragmatic and opportunistic person.
Sarah played a hugely influential role in the development of the evolving Kentish towns where she built her theatres at the end of the 18th century.
About the speaker
Jean Baker (not a descendant of Sarah Baker) worked as a journalist for some years.
In 2000, she completed a PhD at the University of Kent that explored the significance of provincial theatre in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
Her published work includes:
- The Proclamation Society, William Mainwaring and the Theatres Representations Act of 1788
- Theatre, Law and Society in the Provinces: The Case of Sarah Baker
- Sarah Baker and her Kentish Theatres 1737 to 1816: Challenging the Status Quo.
The MAC spring lecture series
This is one of 6 talks in the Medway Archives Centre (MAC) spring lecture series.
Each talk costs £4 per ticket or you can book a space to all 6 talks for £20.
To book, visit the Medway Archives Centre events page.