It contained reviews of theatre productions around the world, theatrical news, short stories, verse and biographical sketches of important figures of the time, written by prominent critics, playwrights, managers and actors, and illustrated with Woodburytype photographs.According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (ODNB), The Theatre was founded by the actor-manager Henry Irving, initially as a vehicle for his self-promotion.[4] Among those writing for the magazine during Hawkins's editorship were Irving, W. Davenport Adams, F. C. Burnand, H. J. Byron, W. S. Gilbert, George Grossmith, John Hollingshead and Tom Taylor.[13] Contributors to The Theatre under Scott's editorship included Irving, Gilbert, William Archer, Lewis Carroll, J. T. Grein, Gilbert à Beckett, Arthur Wing Pinero, George R. Sims and Herbert Beerbohm Tree; those contributing to the music section included William Beatty-Kingston and Herman Klein.[19] Scott left in 1889, and for the remaining eight years of its existence The Theatre continued under Bernard Capes, Charles Eglington and Addison Bright.