'Wild Woodbine' Cigarettes

Circa: mid-20th-century

Early theatre-goers used to smoke during performances, with audience members even throwing lit matches down into the Pit. It’s no wonder that most 18th-century theatres burnt down, with the average lifespan of a theatre being 12-18 years until the 19th-century.

This packet of Wild Woodbine cigarettes was found under the stage, and was possibly produced in the local W.D. & Wills factory. By the 20th-century, smoking inside the auditorium had long ceased. We believe these cigarettes were probably owned by a stagehand.