1768: 8 George 3 c.28: An Act for licensing a Playhouse within the City of Norwich.
[Preamble, reciting Clause in Act 10 Geo II. c. 28. Sect. 5.]
WHEREAS in and by an Act of Parliament made in the Tenth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Second, to explain and amend so much of an Act of the Twelfth Year of the Reign of Queen Anne, for punishing Rogues, Vagabonds, sturdy Beggars, and Vagrants, as relates to common Players of Interludes, it is provided, That no Person or Persons shall be authorised, by virtue of any Letters Patent from His Majesty, His Heirs, Successors, or Predecessors, or by the Licence of the Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty’s Houshold for the Time being, to act, represent, or perform, for Hire, Gain, or Reward, any Interlude, Tragedy, Comedy, Opera, Play, Farce, or other Entertainment of the Stage, or any Part or Parts therein, in any Part of Great Britain, except in the City of Westminster, and within the Liberties thereof, and in such Places where His Majesty, His Heirs, or Successors, shall in their Royal Persons reside, and during such Residence only:
And whereas it may be proper to impower the Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty’s Houshold for the Time being, to grant his Licence to Persons to represent and perform Plays and other Entertainments of the Stage within the City of Norwich: May it therefore please Your most Excellent Majesty, that it may be enacted;’ and be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,
[Lord Chamberlain impowered to grant his Licence for the performing occasionally such Plays within the City of Norwich, as have been, or shаll be, duly licensed by the Chamberlain.]
That it shall and may be lawful for the Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty’s Houshold for the Time being, and he is hereby authorised and impowered to grant his Licence or Licences, from Time to Time, to any Person or Persons to represent or perform for Hire, Gain, or Reward, within the said City of Norwich, any such Tragedies, Plays, Operas, or other Performances of the Stage only, or any Part or Parts therein, as have already been or shall hereafter be licensed by the Chamberlain of His Majesty’s Houshold, at such Times and Seasons only as shall be expressed in such Licence; the said recited Act of the Tenth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty, or any thing therein contained to the contrary, in any wise notwithstanding.