James Planché
British dramatist, costume designer, and antiquarian (1796-1880) · Writers · Died at 84
James Robinson Planché was a British dramatist, antiquary and officer of arms. Over a period of approximately 60 years he wrote, adapted, or collaborated on 176 plays in a wide range of genres including extravaganza, farce, comedy, burletta, melodrama and opera.
James Planché is read about 11 times a day, in 9 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 22 June 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 60 days, one point a day.
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Photos 7
A letter from William Makepeace Thackeray to Planché, asking for tickets to go behind the scenes of one of his plays
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, where Planché's first play was staged
A playbill for the 1823 production of King John in which Planché introduced historically accurate costumes
Watteau's painting Gilles, on which Planché based the costume of Pierrot in Love and Fortune
The Olympic Theatre, for which Planché wrote 30 pieces between 1819 and 1856
James Planché in old age, wearing court uniformAwards
About this person
Planché was responsible for introducing historically accurate costume into nineteenth century British theatre, and subsequently became an acknowledged expert on historical costume, publishing a number of works on the topic.
