Actors have often appeared in two, and sometimes in three theatres on the same evening.  This may be the result of their own great popularity, or due to the fact of their serving a manager who has become lessee of more than one establishment.  For twenty-eight nights in succession, Grimaldi performed the arduous duties of clown both at Sadler’s Wells and Covent Garden Theatres.  On one occasion he even played clown at the Surrey Theatre in addition.  It is recorded that “the only refreshment he took during the whole evening was one glass of warm ale and a biscuit.”  A postchaise and four was waiting at the Surrey Theatre to convey him to Sadler’s Wells, and thence to Covent Garden, and the postboys urged their horses to a furious speed.  It is well known that while fulfilling his double engagement he one wet night missed his coach, and ran in the rain all the way from Clerkenwell to Holborn, in his clown’s dress, before he could obtain a second vehicle.  He was recognised as he ran by a man who shouted:  “Here’s Joe Grimaldi!” And forthwith the most thoroughly popular performer of his day was followed by a roaring and cheering mob of admirers, who proclaimed his name and calling, threw up their hats and caps, exhibited every evidence of delight, and agreed, as with one accord, to see him safe and sound to his journey’s end.  “So the coach went on, surrounded by the dirtiest bodyguard that was ever beheld; not one of whom deserted his post until Grimaldi had been safely deposited at the stage-door of Covent Garden, when, after raising a vociferous cheer, such of them as had money rushed round to the gallery doors, and making their appearance in the front just as he came on the stage, set up a boisterous shout of ‘Here he is again!’ and cheered him enthusiastically, to the infinite amusement of every person in the theatre who had got wind of the story.”

At one time Elliston, engaged as an actor at Drury Lane, had the additional responsibility of two theatrical managements, the Surrey and the Olympic.  His performers were required to serve both theatres, and thus frequently appeared upon the stage in two counties upon the same night.  In 1834 the two patent theatres were ruled by one lessee, whose managerial scheme it was to work the two houses with a company and a half.  The running to and from Drury Lane and Covent Garden of actors half attired, with rouged faces, and loaded with the paraphernalia of their art, of dancers in various stages of dress, of musicians bearing their instruments and their music-books, was incessant, while the interchange of mysterious terms and inquiries, such as “Who’s on?” “Stage waits,” “Curtain down,” “Rung up,” “First music,” &c., was sufficiently perplexing to passers-by.  At the season of Christmas, when the system of double duty was at its height, the hardships endured by the performers were severe indeed.  The dancers were said to pass from one theatre to the other six times during the evening, and to undergo no fewer than eight changes of costume.