The hand suggests that this copy was produced in the eighteenth century.

The hand suggests that this copy was produced in the eighteenth century.

The play premiered at the Comédie-Française on Thursday 29 August 1748. It was performed 68 times by Lekain between 1756 and 1778.

This manuscript gives the names of the actors and their roles as follows:

• Sémiramis – Marie Dumesnil
• Arzace – Henri Louis Lekain
• Azéma – Sophie Hus
• Assur – Jean Claude Gilles Colson, a.k.a. Bellecour
• Oroès – Charles-François Racot de Gradval
• Otane – Dubois
• Mitrane – Mr Deborneval
• Cédar – Mr Dubreuil