On 18 September 1809, the rebuilt Covent Garden Theatre opened in London with a performance of Macbeth. Before the night was over, the audience had turned the occasion into the beginning of the Old Price Riots.

A fire destroyed the previous theatre in September 1808. Rebuilding was expensive, and actor-manager John Philip Kemble attempted to recover some of the cost by changing the auditorium and raising admission prices.

A place in the pit rose from three shillings and sixpence to four shillings. Admission to the boxes increased from six to seven shillings. Part of the theatre had also been given over to private boxes, reducing the space available under the previous arrangements.

The audience made its objections clear on opening night. Kemble, who was playing Macbeth, was greeted by shouting, hissing and hooting. The noise continued throughout the performance. Magistrates were called, and some protesters were arrested, but the disturbance continued until about two o’clock in the morning.

The protesters returned on subsequent nights.

Their demand was summed up by the letters ‘O.P.’, meaning ‘Old Prices’. Performances were disrupted by chanting, banners, rattles, whistles, stamping and dancing. The campaign developed its own songs and slogans. Protesters could buy admission for the advertised performance while ensuring that very little of it could be heard.

Kemble tried to keep the theatre operating and employed people to maintain order. The continuing disruption was expensive, and the dispute showed little sign of ending.

Eventually Kemble gave way on the central complaints. The price of the pit returned to three shillings and sixpence, changes were made to the private boxes, and he publicly apologised from the stage.

What began during Macbeth on 18 September had developed into a sustained dispute over prices and public access to one of London’s major theatres.