Marriott began her career as a dancer, trained by Oscar Byrne.
She first performed at the Theatre Royal, Manchester, until asked at short notice to take the part of Biddy Nuts in Wreck Ashore by Buckstone.
Subsequently she played chambermaid roles until she had the opportunity to play tragedy in Liverpool. "
Rapidly she rose in public estimation, one success following hard upon the heels of another."
She had a "decided triumph" as Bianca in Fazio at Drury Lane, then she performed at the Surrey Theatre, directed at the National Standard theatre, and became acting manager of Sadler's Wells.
During her career so far, she was known for playing Hamlet, Meg Merrilies, Helen Macgregor, Gertrude, and Emilia in Othello.

An alternative version of her life states that her stage debut was in December 1854 at the Old Drury.
She "served her novitiate" at the Adlephi Theatre, Liverpool, where her husband-to-be, "Bob" Edgar, was acting manager.
In December 1858 she performed in Pauline, or Three Murderers of De Burcy, and in Jane Brightwell, or The Beggar's Petition at the Royal Adelphi, Sheffield.

In 1863 Alice Marriott and Robert Edgar took over the management of Sadler's Wells Theatre for six years.
Edgar was nominally the manager, but Marriott undertook production, acting and management.
For the winter season beginning September 1864, her improvements included providing chairs for the dress circle and allowing women to wear bonnets in the pit-stalls.
The first play that season was Love, by Sheridan Knowles.
A reviewer said: "The company, ... if not quite equal to the sustainment of so refined a drama, is nevertheless more than respectable."
She was "for some years lessee of several theatres, including the Sadler's Wells and the Standard at Shoreditch.
She played also in the provinces."
The couple gave up the lease of Sadler's Wells at the end of 1869 after their American tour, and in 1870 it was taken over by William Henry Pennington.
On 15 January 1870 Marriott appeared at Sadler's Wells (now leased by Mr Pennington) as Julia, in The Hunchback, and she performed in The Lady of Lyons and Fazio there in the same week.

After her return from touring between 1870 and 1881 with Miss Marriott's Dramatic Company," she managed Sadler's Wells again from 1881 for about eight years.
At some point before 1890 she joined the Lyceum Company, acting with Henry Irving and Ellen Terry.
For example, she performed in Ravenswood there in 1890.

Marriott "made much of her income from melodrama," but also played Shakespearean roles such as Juliet and Lady Macbeth regularly, and later Romeo.
She played one of the witches in Henry Irving's 1889 Macbeth at the Lyceum.
She was described as the "ultimate tragedienne" for her lead part in Jeanie Deans.
She played the Adelphi Theatre, London, in 1895 and 1898.
Marriott began her career as a dancer, trained by Oscar Byrne. She first performed at the Theatre Royal, Manchester, until asked at short notice to take the part of Biddy Nuts in Wreck Ashore by Buckstone. Subsequently she played chambermaid roles until she had the opportunity to play tragedy in Liverpool. "Rapidly she rose in public estimation, one success following hard upon the heels of another." She had a "decided triumph" as Bianca in Fazio at Drury Lane, then she performed at the Surrey Theatre, directed at the National Standard theatre, and became acting manager of Sadler's Wells. During her career so far, she was known for playing Hamlet, Meg Merrilies, Helen Macgregor, Gertrude, and Emilia in Othello.
An alternative version of her life states that her stage debut was in December 1854 at the Old Drury. She "served her novitiate" at the Adlephi Theatre, Liverpool, where her husband-to-be, "Bob" Edgar, was acting manager. In December 1858 she performed in Pauline, or Three Murderers of De Burcy, and in Jane Brightwell, or The Beggar's Petition at the Royal Adelphi, Sheffield.
In 1863 Alice Marriott and Robert Edgar took over the management of Sadler's Wells Theatre for six years. Edgar was nominally the manager, but Marriott undertook production, acting and management. For the winter season beginning September 1864, her improvements included providing chairs for the dress circle and allowing women to wear bonnets in the pit-stalls. The first play that season was Love, by Sheridan Knowles. A reviewer said: "The company, ... if not quite equal to the sustainment of so refined a drama, is nevertheless more than respectable." She was "for some years lessee of several theatres, including the Sadler's Wells and the Standard at Shoreditch. She played also in the provinces." The couple gave up the lease of Sadler's Wells at the end of 1869 after their American tour, and in 1870 it was taken over by William Henry Pennington. On 15 January 1870 Marriott appeared at Sadler's Wells (now leased by Mr Pennington) as Julia, in The Hunchback, and she performed in The Lady of Lyons and Fazio there in the same week.
After her return from touring between 1870 and 1881 with Miss Marriott's Dramatic Company," she managed Sadler's Wells again from 1881 for about eight years. At some point before 1890 she joined the Lyceum Company, acting with Henry Irving and Ellen Terry. For example, she performed in Ravenswood there in 1890.
Marriott "made much of her income from melodrama," but also played Shakespearean roles such as Juliet and Lady Macbeth regularly, and later Romeo. She played one of the witches in Henry Irving's 1889 Macbeth at the Lyceum. She was described as the "ultimate tragedienne" for her lead part in Jeanie Deans. She played the Adelphi Theatre, London, in 1895 and 1898.
Alice Marriott (actress)