How would Londoners know what play be staged in time?

Playbills: Playbills were printed advertisements that listed the actors, roles, and playdates for upcoming performances. They were also used to publicize other entertainments, such as concerts and balls. Playbills were sold at theatres and other public places, and they circulated widely throughout London.

Newspapers: The newspapers that Londoners could obtain would cover theatrical events. Many provided advertisements promoting the performers and upcoming performances. Newspapers also occasionally featured in-depth reviews of individual productions.

Word of mouth: As news of the time had far-reaching and long time scales to propagate over significant distances, gossip among friends also was a factor and those more inclined to find out when favorite entertainers would perform also sought after more formal methods of getting this information through print advertisements.