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First woman on the London stage?

3 July 2026 · 3 min read · Lianne

I recently attended the "Londoners on Trial" exhibition at the London Archives, where I came across this rather intriguing individual.

Moll Cutpurse - a 17th Century celebrity who featured in not one, but two plays.

But what's her story? And why was she famous?

_{Credit: Image from Wikimedia Commons. Source: the Wellcome Collection.}

Mary Frith was born in 1584 in London – the daughter of a shoe maker. But in her teens she became known as a thief – appearing on numerous occasions before the courts. Hence her nickname, Moll Cutpurse.

But it wasn't her petty crimes that made her famous – it was her public persona that scandalised Elizabethan society. First, she dressed as a man. As can be seen in her picture, she was partial to dressing in doublet and breeches. And if that wasn't enough, she enjoyed drinking in taverns and smoking tobacco – and is said to be known for her comedic performances – dancing, singing and playing the lute!

That may not seem controversial today – but in Elizabethan England that was shocking behaviour. She was so notorious that she became the subject of two plays.

_{Credit: Image from Wikimedia Commons.}

One of them, the 'The Roaring Girle' by Myddleton and Dekker was performed in 1611 at the Fortune Theatre. And – according to the London Archives (and they would know), it is claimed that she appeared as herself on stage for one performance. Dressed as a man and playing a lute.

If that is true – and it is a big if – that would make her one of the first women to perform on the London stage (along with Gwynneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love!!).

_{Walter Hodges' imagined reconstruction of Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, act 1, scene 3, being performed in an Elizabethan theatre.}

_{Credit: Image from Wikimedia Commons (licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license).}

Pretty risky given that women were barred from the stage in those days – and it is suggested that this performance may have been the reason she ended up in Bridewell prison in 1611 - so who knows?

She certainly had an interesting life. She is rumoured to have had an exotic menagerie, and if her alleged autobiography (which was published after her death) is to be believed, she also entered the male escort business, operating a brothel for wealthy women.

We do know that she was admitted to Bethlem Hospital in later life, and died in 1659 and was buried at St Bride's, Fleet Street.

Fact or fiction, she is worth checking out. As is the exhibition itself.

Fascinating stories of London’s criminals, victims and law enforcers from the medieval period to modern times. It's free and is on until 25 Feb 2027.

And if you can, attend one of the excellent curator-led tours. More details here.

First woman on the London stage?

First woman on the London stage?