In 1837 Sullivan joined a strolling company and at Cork was given an engagement at 15 shillings a week as a regular member of a stock company,[REF] playing minor Shakespearian parts to Charles Kean's lead [REF].
Sullivan soon began to play leading roles, in 1844 he took the part of Antonio supporting Helena Faucit in The Merchant of Venice and was Petruchio to her Katharina in The Taming of the Shrew [REF].