Shakespeare in performance works were plundered for these scenes. Among the drolls taken from Shakespeare were "Bottom the Weaver" (Bottom's scenes from "A Midsummer Night's Dream") and "The Grave-makers" (the gravedigger's scene from "Hamlet"). At the Restoration in 1660, Shakespeare's plays were divided between the two newly licensed companies: the King's Company of Thomas Killigrew and the Duke's Men of William Davenant. The licensing system prevailed for two centuries; from 1660 to 1843, only two main companies regularly presented Shakespeare in London. Davenant, who had known early-Stuart actors such as John Lowin and Joseph Taylor, was the main figure establishing some continuity with
Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory and "A Midsummer Night's Dream". These were well received by critics such as Toby O'Connor Morse of "The Independent", who commented on "Lear": "One of the finest productions of Shakespeare – or any other playwright for that matter – seen in Bristol in years". On "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Lyn Gardner of "The Guardian" commented: For the 2001 season, the company paired "Measure for Measure" with "Coriolanus". Both productions were well received; Susannah Clapp of "The Observer", reviewing "Measure for Measure", stated: and on "Coriolanus", Jeremy Kingston of "The Times" described the company as "one of the most exciting theatre