Why actors say ‘Break a leg!’ Nice shot here onto the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Samuel Foote took over the running of the theatre in the 1700s, which was quite a risk because the theatre (then called the Little Theatre) didn’t have a theatre licence (the King granted licences, and he’d refused the Little Theatre as the previous owner had published controversial pamphlets).
Foote got round the problem by not charging people admission, making his money back by selling food and drink at the intervals. The Crown was furious and Foote was invited to the palace. Knowing that Foote had once boasted that he could ride any horse, he was given a horse to ride that had knowingly never been ridden before. He was thrown and badly injured, breaking his leg. The royals felt so guilty, Foote was granted a licence and from that year the Little Theatre became known as the Theatre Royal. Hence ‘Break a leg’ can be a good thing in the theatre world!
Foote got round the problem by not charging people admission, making his money back by selling food and drink at the intervals. The Crown was furious and Foote was invited to the palace. Knowing that Foote had once boasted that he could ride any horse, he was given a horse to ride that had knowingly never been ridden before. He was thrown and badly injured, breaking his leg. The royals felt so guilty, Foote was granted a licence and from that year the Little Theatre became known as the Theatre Royal. Hence ‘Break a leg’ can be a good thing in the theatre world!
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