For 10 points, name this profession shared by Peg Woffington, Edmund Kean, and David Garrick.
An essay by William Hazlitt praises a fictional member of this profession named "Madame Pasta." In the 18th century, Aaron Hill wrote many works to instruct members of this profession, who were lampooned in Charles Churchill's satire The Rosciad. In 1809, members of this profession were interrupted at work by boisterous protests from London consumers during the Old Price Riots. Employment for members of this profession was artificially restricted when Charles II effectively granted a monopoly to Thomas Killigrew and William Davenant. Denis Diderot wrote a book about this profession's "paradox," which argues that people with this job should ideally be as emotionless as possible. Thomas Betterton was the leading figure in this profession in late-17th-century England, and he was later surpassed by Charles Macklin. In the 17th and 18th centuries, people in this profession worked at Covent Garden and Drury Lane. For 10 points, name this profession shared by Peg Woffington, Edmund Kean, and David Garrick.
An essay by William Hazlitt praises a fictional member of this profession named "Madame Pasta.
actors [or actresses; or acting; or treading the boards; or performing in plays; or anything indicating that someone is acting in a theatre or on a stage]