Poster announcing that, 'in consequence of the deeply lamented death' of George III, the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, will be closed until further notice. Dated Sunday evening, 30 January 1820. The king had died at Windsor Castle the previous day, when Drury Lane was presenting Wild Oats by John O'Keefe and the pantomime Jack and the Bean Stalk, or Harlequin and the Ogre,with Bologna as Harlequin.

Drury Lane remained dark until Thursday 17th February when it reopened with an evening of sacred and secular music 'interspersed with odes', noting on the bill of the day: 'Agreeably to the universal feeling of respect to the memory of our late Most Gracious Sovereign and the delicacy due to his august Successor, the Management of this theatre have not deemed it proper to make any Announcement of the particulars of the re-opening until this day, fully aware that their earnest and humble endeavours will be duly appreciated, notwithstanding the shortness of this late notice.' The evening began with the opening chorus of Handel's Messiah, followed by Mrs. Salmon singing the aria from The Messiah 'I know that my redeemer liveth'. Singers also included John Braham and Margaret Carew.

The theatre was back in business on Saturday 19th February, presenting Stephen Storace's opera The Siege of Belgrade with a libretto by James Cobb, and resuming the run of Jack and the Beanstalk.