As a result of its long and tumultuous history, the ownership of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, was more complicated than that of any other nineteenth century British theatre. In 1791 Richard Brinsley Sheridan financed the rebuilding of Drury Lane by issuing 300 debenture shares costing £500 each. These debenture holders, known as the ‘new renters’, were entitled to free admission to all performances plus a dividend of 2s. 6d. for every night the theatre was open. On a typical season of 200 nights, the renters expected to receive a dividend of £25 per annum. This expectation was never fulfilled; there were many years when the dividends were much lower, and sometimes nothing at all.
CLICK HERE for an account of Renters' Dividends between 1852 and 1880