In the 18th century, David Garrick became one of the most important actors and playwrights in the history of English theatre. His greatest contribution was in the comedy genre, and his fame is so legendary that Tricicle paid tribute to him in 2007 with the play Garrick.
In a country where theatrical tradition is valued as a treasure, a group of literary gentlemen founded in 1831 in London's Covent Garden an exclusive private club for men named after the famous British actor. To carry out this project, they had the sponsorship of Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, brother of King William IV.
Private clubs: 'refuges' for influential Spaniards in times of Latin American power
And 195 years later, the club has accepted the first female member of royalty, Queen Camilla (78). Her official appointment will take place in April. King Charles III (77) joined in 2024.
According to the official website of the Garrick Club, it was established as a place where "actors and refined and cultured men could meet on equal terms" and where "theatre patrons and their teachers would meet" to "foster a cordial relationship between artists and patrons."
Among the most prominent early members were Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray, who had a fierce rivalry due to the animosity and resentment between them. They didn't mind insulting each other or Thackeray spreading rumours about alleged improper romances of his literary rival.
The club strictly prohibited women from entering. But the situation began to change in 2010 with the approval of the Equality Act, which allowed women as guests of some of the 1,500 members to sit at the main table of 30 seats.
This event led the following year to actor Hugh Bonneville - known for his role as the patriarch in Downton Abbey - proposing his friend, actress Joanna Lumley as a member of the club, and he entered her as a candidate. The result was catastrophic as some wrote insults on the page and others tore it out.
These incidents heated the atmosphere so much that there were several votes afterwards, which ultimately resulted positively for women as on 7th May 2024 the club voted in favour of allowing women to join. It was the first time in 193 years of history that this had happened. The first ones were actresses Judi Dench (91) and Siân Phillips (92).
One of the many anecdotes exemplifying the club's perpetual sexism and misogyny has a woman's name, Cherie Blair, who in 1976 was rejected even for lunch when she was a trainee lawyer with her boyfriend, Tony Blair. As recalled by The Week, the future Prime Minister's wife described the incident as "outrageous."
Members pay just over £1,000 annually to enjoy the amenities, including a complimentary invitation for their guests to dine in one of the dining rooms where they are given a menu without prices as they are not allowed to pay. Additionally, tipping the staff is prohibited.
Among the celebrity members are actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Damian Lewis, or Hugh Laurie, former Liverpool coach Roy Hodgson, designer Paul Smith, and Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler.