Drawing from an analysis of the highly mobile nineteenth-century theatre practices, this chapter analyses notions of migration and mobility and argues that neither is sufficient to capture the lived experiences of theatre professionals of that time. It therefore proposes the concept of the theatre migrant. By examining the biographies and mobilities of European-born actors, the introduction of this concept aims not only to shed light on a unique historical phenomenon but also to highlight that different forms of mobility need to be distinguished within the broader discourse on migration. In this context, this chapter identifies the complexity of the reasons for theatre migration, emphasizing the complex interplay of individual motivations, structural factors, and external influences.